Soul Ties

insert 001 .

“ndithi mandithabathe elithuba ke bantwana bam , ndingazubamde , ndibulele ubukho benu . kuyandivuyisa ukunibona nizalize eligumbi nizingca ngobuntombi benu . makuhlale kutshixiwe esibayeni sikayise de liyofika ixesha lomendo . HALALA !”

—i’d like to thank this opportunity , without any delays , and thank you for your presence . it brings me joy to see you all filling up this room proud of your purity . your father's kraal must stay locked until you're ready for marriage .

me : *singing* ngoba mna ndiyoyika........

—because im scared.....

maidens : *following* ndiyoyik'ukulala namadoda .

—i’m scared of sleeping with men .

we sang as we walked out the door of the hut . each maiden went to their home . i walked home with my two friends , zandi and lakhe .

zandi : jeez ! today was fun ngl . the dancing ? ay .

lakhe : the singing friends ? ay we talented kwelocala .

zandi : *looks at me* awuthethi yintoni wena ?

—why aren't you sayin anything ?

me : haysuka , we always dance and sing , what's so special about today ?

im a proud virgin but wow , im tired of these gatherings . today ? had to be the worst .

zandi : hayke ntombi , we’re preparing for the september reed dance , where the prince will choose a wife . *chuckles*

lakhe : and it's obvious who he'll choose . *spins around* y'all see me right ?

we all laugh . ion get why they fussing about this mna ay .

me : ion think im taking part in that reed dance .

them : haybo ?

me : ewe .

lakhe : heee ndas'ke ndakrokra .

—im getting suspicious .

me : hay nana , im still a virg .

i said entering at the front gate of my house and they laughed , we said our goodbyes , then i got inside the house . there was no electricity so i helped makhulu make a fire , which we cooked and boiled bathing water on . we ate supper , bathed , then went to sleep .

btw , im luyimimangaliso sindwayo . im 17 years of age and im in grade eleven . im a short , light-skinned girl with a black-brown afro . i live with my grandma in a village called eDikeni , it's just the two of us . my parents and my three older brothers live in gqeberha (port elizabeth) .

join me in this journey of mine .