LONWABO SITHOLE

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LONWABO SITHOLE

A Foundation Of A Xhosa/Zulu Girl.

18 May 2024, 00:32 Publicly Viewable

Background 

My life has been kinda crazy because my mother is Xhosa and my father is Zulu so I'm really in between, what I should talk about but since I grew up under the Zulu Tribe, I will stick to them mostly.

The Zulu people are usually known for dominating from southeastern Africa under the leadership of a man called Shaka Zulu. Shaka Zulu expanded the Zululand into a powerful kingdom, he settled in the region called /known as KwaZulu-Natal in present-day South Africa.

If you are a Zulu person, you would understand that if you are a girl in the Zulu tribe, you have to go through something called 'Umhlonyane' which symbolizes you being a virgin not only that, but you also grow by going through this process, and what's nice about this process the age is unlimited honestly.

Zulu Tribes, also believe that when you turn 21 there is a specific thing that has to be done for them to say thanks to you since you have reached this age it's called 'Umemulo' I'm not familiar with it yet since I haven't reached that point but, it's usually another time where you are being thanked for keeping your virginity this long and having no child.

So during this process, they also slaughter a cow and the traditional Zulu dance 'Ukusina' involving a spear and guests gifting the young female with money and other blessings. Growing up in a Zulu household I was taught that you have to talk to the ancestors all the time.

Ancestors

Here they burn something called 'Impepho' to communicate with the underground gang called the Ancestors. This 'Mpepho' thing is usually in a room where only family members can enter that room meaning another person who doesn't have the same surname is not allowed to enter that room. You are asking yourself why, it's because they might distract the way things are done in this household.

So, the guys in the Zulu Tribe, go through a process of 'ukusoka' meaning being circumcised. Not all Zulu Men believe in doing this thing, but the ones who do it, it symbolizes the growth in men by entering a new stage. I forgot to mention that if you are going through all of these stages there is certain attire you have to wear, the girls have their attire, and the guys also have their own attire.

The stereotypes in my Zulu household believe that whenever you get something you have to thank them with their clan names, and I think that has influenced me because that's how I think it's the right way to say thanks to someone else when they give, or when you receive something from them.

Another thing maybe not all Zulu Tribes do this but whenever you talk to your elders you have to be on one knee and look down, if you are wearing a cap you have to take it off and listen to what they are saying in that position until they are done.

So, moving from your hometown and interacting with other people who speak different languages can be hard since you believe that some things are done in a certain way, now you have to adapt to the way other people live and move around.

In conclusion, being shaped by a Zulu tribe is the best thing ever, but it's also hard when you move around because most people believe that Zulu people don't want to learn other languages.

 

Kinship Is Viewed As One Of The Most Vital Forces In Africans' Lives.

17 May 2024, 01:38 Publicly Viewable

Africans usually base their lives on networks of kinship.

So firstly, everyone has their family as the bedrock of their networks so do I. These are the people who show unwavering love, guidance plus love. Yes, through family bonds we face life experiences we also navigate life's challenges together and this creates an even bigger bond between us. Honestly, my bond with my family is kept by this deep love for each other.

Besides family, there are also people called friends. These people bring their unique love, energy, and presence into my life. These are the people with whom you can share useless jokes meaning inside jokes plus any memories you all have shared plus history, but at the end of the day this relationship is there because of the support, respect, and having space where everyone can be comfortable around each other without any judgment lastly and the laugh we share also keeps this relationship going.

As I give thought to my networks, I have realized that there is a sense of growth and inspiration. Learning, asking for advice to gaining more knowledge about career ambitions this is all opportunities to learn, evolve, and adapt. Through my networks, I have gained some knowledge and also gained an understanding of how the world works plus I have refined my skills, and this has shaped my life. 

Also in this journey, I have inquired about a few peers with whom we share our triumphs and tribulations if you were a student, you would understand what I am talking about. My network also extends to the lecturers who also serve as my guides and role models, meaning these people don't only provide academic guidance but also invaluable insights taken from their own experiences. These experiences have given me the courage to navigate my life through academia and more.

How can I forget social media, which has helped me to connect with people around the world? I might say technology has become another integral part of my network. This platform does not only help with communication, but it can also open up new doors or opportunities and possibilities for learning and collaboration. You can also exchange ideas globally by creating virtual study groups and many more.

As I continue to elevate my networks, I admire the value of support, authenticity, and compassion plus making new genuine relationships and also making a new impact in my life. I even strive to make or build stronger and meaningful relationships with more people and try to contribute to the greater good for once in my life. In conclusion yes, I have the most boring Kinship but I'm still trying to navigate and cultivate these connections. I am just thankful for all those meaningful connections, those precious experiences are just everything, and my networks provide lifelong learning.

I'm looking forward to more great experiences that might as well catch up with me anytime. 

A life as a really boring university student

14 Mar 2024, 23:57 Publicly Viewable

My day usually start at 5;45 as i get out of bed im hit with this cold breeze coming from outside i mean its 5;00 in the morning ,this breeze made my body to shiver and have goosebumps right away.But what can i say i have to get this morning life started,as per usual we have to thank God for another day that he has given me.After praying i was like why don't i take a shower since time is against me ,as i open the water it's was cold as freak .I was so angry that my roommate didn't bother turning the geyser on i was so angry that my face started turning red and smoke started  coming out my ears but i couldn't do anything to her .I took a cold shower i wanted to cry i was shaking when i came out .

I opened my wardrobe and looked for a character i can be today ,but looking at the state of my wardrobe it's was hard for me to choose a nice character since i was already late for school, never mind that my body was shaking because of the cold shower i went through .I chose an outfit that would warm my body as soon as possible ,but little did i know I'm putting myself in a big problem .Since i was already late i had to leave my res without eating anything because my day was already ruined .As i opened the door i realized that its really hot outside by looking at my out fit its was chaii for me honestly because i had already worn an outfit that would make my body feel warm .

When i say it's hot i mean that the sun rays were hitting my skin and burning it into charcoal seriously .i rushed back inside my room i was so late i had like 1 hour until my first class starts ,I couldn't let my body burn in those clothes because i saw if i go to school like this i would faint for real.I had to chose an outfit as fast as i can ,as i did that i was looking at the time from having 1hour until class starts i now had 45minutes ,i had to rush to school actually i had to run to school.I arrived at school sweating and hungry ,i arrived at school when 5minutes was left until class starts my heart was beating fast that i thought i would die in the process of trying to figure out what was happening in class.

Class was now over i had to get something to eat because ,my head was so heavy i started getting dizzy because i know it's not healthy to not eat in the morning apparently .As soon i went to the school cafeteria i smelt every different type of food ,i was aroused by the smell that i wanted to buy everythng i saw.After getting a small snack i headed back to my res because i had one class on that day ,so i took a nap since i had a hectic day i woke up at 23;00 and started preparing myself to my next class.  

I personally hate Stereotypes,WE SHOULD LEARN NOT TO JUDGE AND PREJUDGE

10 Mar 2024, 20:03 Publicly Viewable

I dislike the fact that some you should act in a certain way just because you are a woman or man/men .There is this thing that women should work in the kitchen and man should work ,some people think that because you are a woman you can't play certain sports.I hate all of this because people are creating a concept of people based on what they see ,but not on what they really are.

Stereotyping is a big problem in our society ,because it's puts labels about how a person should act or live according to their personality,race,sex and other facts.In my own opinion it has affected alot of people because they have this thing that you have to live like this just because of these stereotypes.Some are even ashamed to do certain activitives just because they are scared on how the society is going react on that certain thing.The honest truth is that stereotype has created a distortion of how every individual has to behave.

The negative effects that stereotyping causes in people are many.Some of the ngeatives effects are harm,poor performance in different activities and even in health problems.According to the article i read by Rick Nauert .Nauert argues how people can be affected by stereotypes even after being exposed to them.Stereotypes create a misconception of how people are and how they live in other cultures and countries also.This misconception has caused alot of discrimination ,In the talk"The danger of a single story"  by Chimamanda Adichie argues that if you only know the single story of a person or a country can cause a big misunderstanding and create stereotypes.

She uses examples of when she first came to US to study and how her Journey in US was.In all don't judge what you see in person.