I have never been more photographed in my life! The general consensus, in spite of my reservations about white people in Xhosa traditional dress, was that it worked. The eyebrow pencil instead of calamine for the face painting was a bit of a fail – it smudged and needed touching up all the time (thanks for your patience, Cebisa).
I really resisted the notion of Thabisa in men’s clothes, and me in women’s (you know… the boring “who is the man?” question), but in the end it is how it worked out.
Thabisa and Gail in traditional dress.
She looked fab. I must prefer the men’s clothing – nice lines.
Detail of the ibhayi bought in the street in King William’s Town – beautiful beadwork.
Beaded bracelet and stick (intonga eraselweyo)
The head-dress, called iqhiya, is surprisingly comfy.
In the thick of things, welcoming the makhoti to the groom’s homestead
Wow…wow…wow….I love.
Thanks T. Unqabile wena.
Wow Gail, so cool. Beautiful clothing. Looks like a really happy day.
We had a lot of fun, but it was scorching hot and very long. We sat in the blazing sun while the preacher preached and preached and preached. I felt for the makhoti who was heavily pregnant (with baby number two!). I will write about the wedding itself sometime.
This lifted my heart
Ah, Jenbob, thank you. (I got compliments for my Friday bag, as usual.)
Ewe kakade maxhosa ndithi embo ntozikabawo yiyo leyo maan yimincili kum kukwalulo kwa uvuyo ndithi hlafunani nenze mthamo umnye ngesixhosa sakowethu ndiyazidlangaso heke!!!!
Kakade thina MaAfrika, sizi zinto eziyithandayo into entle. Ndiyabonga Sandile, kakade ukwanda kaliwa ngumthakathi. Ndisafunda ke Sandile isisXhosa.