Family & Community: Late 2003 & Early 2004

Photos 21 to 29 are from a graduation celebration for my sister Galalatsang – Bachelor’s Degree qualifying her to practice law. She lives in a city but had a big tent installed in her front yard. Lots of food prep in backyard – women cutting vegetables then cooking in big black pots on open fires, men BBQing meat, big wagon like a beer can on side for booze. There was song and processional dance to send her off to the graduation ceremony, then big partying when she returned. Anyone who came who had graduated in the past wore their cap and gown, walked in a procession, sat at special tables (apparently a common practice to honor and promote the value of education). Speeches, champagne then a big party deep into the night.

30 to 35 are miscellaneous photos - Family clowns are Khumo, Oratile, Sade (live-in helper) and Desiree. “Church dress” shows a young girl’s communion clothing, baby’s christening clothes, young woman on left (mother of the baby) in uniform of unmarried women. Different denominations have different uniforms but same basic style. Married women wear same as unmarried except no yoke. Uniforms are worn every last Sunday of the month and on special occasions. Snoopy transport shows how babies and small children are carried in blankets or large towels tightly secured in front with special twisting of ends/corners.

Photos 44 to 50 - Three kittens were born in my wardrobe last September. Gave two away and just got “Cinderella” neutered. Mom had two more March 19, one white with grey tail and ear tips, other tiger stripes. She got pregnant while still nursing, but I’ll get her to the vet before another batch begins! Good company and lots of entertainment.

Photos 51 to 66 are a series of the wedding of my niece Tumelo. Tremendous amount of preparation from "lobola" ceremony (money from groom to bride’s family) two months before to formal delivery of bride and all her possessions to groom’s family home about two weeks after the wedding. Very expensive. Lobola was set at R8000. Tumelo had to go live with the inlaws for a couple of weeks as sort of a test to see if she would be a good addition to the family – washed their clothes and prepared food & cleaned house.

1-R20 veggie bag	2-Neo digging grass	3-Khumo - hauling	4-River hike - Stein
1-Vegetable bags like this are sold by women sitting along the road or outside shops. 2-Neo is working on my yard to clear off any green growth and Khumo is helping by hauling and dumping the unwanted stones and greens. There is considerable fear of snakes hiding in grasses then entering houses, so a great deal of time and energy is spent keeping yards clear. Unfortunately all the scraping and digging and raking loosens the topsoil so any breeze or wind blows it into the house. A few of the houses in my village do have planted lawns and some well-placed trees, bushes, and flowers (oleander is popular), but they are ones with easily accessible water – families with more monetary resources.
5-River - Slate	6-River view	7-Buxton limestone	8-Thorn tree - Acacia
9-Weaver birds' nests	10-Cactus	11-Neo's 1st birthday cake	12-Maggie 75; Bonolo 21
Photos 4 to 10 are samples from a walk above one of my schools – a Buxton limestone area where the Taung skull was discovered. The beautiful river was a wonderful surprise and contrast to the area where I live, only a short distance away. There are many beliefs which prevent most of the locals from visiting and enjoying the river – we saw no other people in the area that day. Photos 11 to 20 are a series of birthday pictures – birthdays are not celebrated where I live and often not acknowledged. I made a cake for Khumo’s 6th birthday and it was such a hit I have made one for each of the family members to celebrate their day.
13-Oratile 8	14-Reatligile 3	15-Millie	16-Ishmael 79
17-Funi 9	18-Botiki 10	19-Serwaledi	20-Tumelo 24
Photos 21 to 29 are from a graduation celebration for my sister Galalatsang – Bachelor’s Degree qualifying her to practice law. She lives in a city but had a big tent installed in her front yard. Lots of food prep in backyard – women cutting vegetables then cooking in big black pots on open fires, men BBQing meat, big wagon like a beer can on side for booze. There was song and processional dance to send her off to the graduation ceremony, then big partying when she returned. Anyone who came who had graduated in the past wore their cap and gown, walked in a procession, sat at special tables (apparently a common practice to honor and promote the value of education). Speeches, champagne then a big party deep into the night.
21-Nail prep	22-Pregraduation celebration	23-With Mom and kids	24-Welcome home
25-Tent	26-Party procession	27-Graduation speakers	28-Beer wagon
30 to 35 are miscellaneous photos - Family clowns are Khumo, Oratile, Sade (live-in helper) and Desiree. “Church dress” shows a young girl’s communion clothing, baby’s christening clothes, young woman on left (mother of the baby) in uniform of unmarried women. Different denominations have different uniforms but same basic style. Married women wear same as unmarried except no yoke. Uniforms are worn every last Sunday of the month and on special occasions. Snoopy transport shows how babies and small children are carried in blankets or large towels tightly secured in front with special twisting of ends/corners.
29-Rebecca and Thelma	30-Family clowns	31-Church dress	32-Snoopy transport
33-Khumo's 1st day of school	34-Homework	35-And Snoopy	36-Storm coming
Khumo starts school. Photos 36 to 43 show storms as they quickly move in and out. Beautiful skies! Winter months are April to September. This year we’ve been having more rain than the last couple of years though it started too late to help the farmers. I am happy to have the cooler weather and hopefully the draught the area has been experiencing will be over.
37-Storm	38-Storm	39-Storm	40-Storm
41-Storm	42-Storm	43-Rainbow	44-Closet kittens
Photos 44 to 50 - Three kittens were born in my wardrobe last September. Gave two away and just got “Cinderella” neutered. Mom had two more March 19, one white with grey tail and ear tips, other tiger stripes. She got pregnant while still nursing, but I’ll get her to the vet before another batch begins! Good company and lots of entertainment.
45-Patient mom	46-Beds are for Fun	47-Cool cat	48-Local wildlife
49-Climbing up in the world	50-Hangin' out on the roof	51-Where's the beef?	52-Tent by the house
Photos 51 to 66 are a series of the wedding of my niece Tumelo. Tremendous amount of preparation from "lobola" ceremony (money from groom to bride’s family) two months before to formal delivery of bride and all her possessions to groom’s family home about two weeks after the wedding. Very expensive. Lobola was set at R8000. Tumelo had to go live with the inlaws for a couple of weeks as sort of a test to see if she would be a good addition to the family – washed their clothes and prepared food & cleaned house.
53-Food preparation	54-Food preparation	55-Bride's mother and aunt	56-Bride and her uncle
57-Church	58-Inside the church	59-Proceeding up the aisle	60-Signing papers
Groom’s family sent a cow (about R2000) and a sheep (R800) to be slaughtered for the wedding and the bride’s family provided two cows, vegetables, flour, maize meal, oil, sugar etc. to make bread and "pap" and tea for 500 guests. And of course there is the beer, soda and some liquor. Bride’s dress R1500, groom’s R1500. wedding cake, DJ, transport, as well as tent, chair and table rental. Finding money to spend on events like this is more important than paying school fees or saving for a rainy day. The wedding was a real mix of western world tradition and African tribal customs. There is too much to share now but I’ll save the memories for later. It was quite an event and everyone is still recovering.
61-Speeches	62-Dancers	63-Tumelo and Kagiso	64-Cake cutting
65-Me and a cousin	66-Mrs. Disipi

Family and Community: Late 2003 & Early 2004

Family and Community:
Late 2003 & Early 2004