Celebrating National African Heritage Day in Protea Glen, Soweto

With the Protea Glen Branch President, Thato Rabaholo and his wife Thozama at the branch Heritage Day activity

Martha visits with sisters at the Protea Glen Branch Heritage Day celebration in colorful traditional African attire

Thursday was a South African national holiday, African Heritage Day, and celebrations were held throughout the country. We had the day off work, and the Protea Glen Branch had an all-day branch activity and asked everyone to come in clothing that is traditional to their tribe, clan or nationality.

Sister Mnguni made Martha a Sotho tribal "seshoeshoe" dress (sounds like "shwayshway") and Bob a Nelson Mandela ceremonial presidential shirt so we wouldn't feel out of place, and she delivered them to our flat the night before. Branch members were pleasantly surprised to see us show up dressed in African heritage costumes.

With Sister Mnguni who provided us with our beautiful African clothing for R600 (about $48) so we would fit in at the party



Sister Rabaholo, the branch president's wife, puts Martha's
 head cover on her. She said, "This is hard because your hair
 is so soft.Our hair works like Velcro to hold it in place."

Martha's head wrap completed




Almost all the sisters wore native attire - Zulu, Xhosa, Tswana, Ndebele, Sotho, Swazi, etc.- chatting like birds on a wire

 

 

Sister Mbobo says something to make the sisters laugh

A close up of some amazing Zulu beadwork (left) and a native Swazi outfit (right)

Six sisters with Zulu heritage pose for a photo in their traditional Zulu attire with its intricate beadwork.
To be entitled to wear the Zulu beaded hat or the sheer shawl you must first be married.

Sister Egan joins in with the other sisters in anticipation of the cultural demonstrations

This is our friend Mohau, a returned missionary, branch
clerk and branch photographer extraordinaire

Sister Egan takes her "Brownies for a Crowd"
from the kitchen to the cultural hall table

Proud of his heritage with one foot still in the present




Branch President Rabaholo consults with his counselor, Brother
Mbobo prior to starting the program in the cultural hall

This boy obviously didn't get the memo
and came in less-than-traditional attire

Sister Mbobo, branch activity chairman, conducted the program, where everyone stood up and
danced, performed, or otherwise showed off their outfits and told about their tribe or nation,
what they like to do and eat, etc. whether they descend from Zulus, Xhosa, Tswana, Sotho,
Swazi, Ndebele or whatever. What a fascinating experience! She is in her Zulu royalty attire.



Sister Mnguni showed up a bit late with her
five children, including her 8 week old baby

Martha enjoyed hugging two 2-month old babies
at the branch activity - It's been too long since she
has held one of her grandchildren!

This Xhosa descendant is greeted by Sister Mnguni after her presentation and dance in her bright orange and face paint

Sister Mbobo the Younger paints her
daughter's face in the Xhosa tradition.

The finished product



The children joined in on the traditional festivities with Xhosa face painting

The food for the activity was traditional African food, and it wasn't our favorite! They served chicken feet and chicken heads and necks (all boiled), goat hooves, tripe and sour porridge, some very hot curry, among other treats, although the person who was supposed to bring the deep-fried mopane worms was a no show. Clearly the most popular item on the table was the traditional American dessert, chocolate fudge brownies, that Martha brought.

 

 



 



 

Martha wasn't even tempted to try her chicken foot that she is holding up by a toenail. As you can see, we tore Styrofoam containers in half to use as plates. And the kids loved the chicken feet and necks, as you can see here with Naomi Mnguni sucking the meat off a chicken foot and her sister Rachel devouring the chicken neck.