“Ntasi, wake up,” Zuba shook her younger sister’s shoulder. “We must leave now if we are to make it to Lubigi before sunrise.”
Ntasi jumped up from the mat where the five girls had been sleeping and looked around the unfamiliar room. Zuba was waking the other girls. They had spent the night in the ‘Tanzi’, the betrothal hut. Realisation flooded her mind and bubble rumbled in her tummy as her excitement grew, mixed with fear. It was her passage to marriage ceremony. She must complete the traditional ‘Mpatanzi’ rituals that prepare her for marriage. Looking around she saw that everyone was awake. Zuba handed her a beautiful pale periwinkle coloured robe. A shiver run down Ntasi’s spine as the soft bluish purplish fabric covered her. The traditional colour of purity, she thought in awe. Only a bride wears this colour and only at her ‘mpatanzi’. She carefully placed a single ‘Vinca’ flower in her hair and breathed in deeply letting her breath out slowly in an effort to calm racing heart. She looked quickly at the vase of ‘vinca’ flowers that her mother would find in the morning. It signified that the rituals had begun.
“Come on,” Zuba took Ntasi’s hand and they joined the others already outside. “We must hurry.”
Even in the dark of the night, Ntasi could see the lovely colourful robes that her friends were wearing. Everything was happening so fast and she felt as if it was happening to someone else, like she was dreaming it all.
It was a steep, rough climb to the Lubigi Falls especially as the girls tried hard not to spoil their delicate robes or scratch themselves. The bride and her companions must be found without blemish. Ntasi had climbed to the Lubigi many times before but never in the dark. She led the way now and was surprised at how easily her bare feet found the familiar path. They made it in no time at all and the girls quickly disrobed and raced each other into the pool by the falls. They had to be in the water before sunrise. Screams and shouts filled the quiet mountain air as one by one the girls jumped into the icy cold water. Ntasi’s tension began to ease as her body adjusted to the water and the girls began to play.
A rainbow appeared over the falls as the sun rose and the cloudy spray of water around the falls took on a bluish purplish hue. The girls fell silent and watched the exquisite display in awe. Ntasi felt her stomach muscles tighten and a flutter began inside. The ancient spirit of purity had arrived and mpatanzi rituals could now truly begin.
What was going to happen next? Ntasi wondered. None of them had ever participated in mpatanzi before. No one knew what happened at daybreak.
“Listen to me everyone,” Zuba’s voice was sharp as it cut into the silence. “The waterfall rite must begin now. Mother told me what to do.”
Ntasi stared at her sister, hearing her words, but powerless to respond. Her heart thumped in her chest and her hands shook. There was no turning back now, she thought, a shiver running down her spine. The strong handsome face of Ndita, flashed before her and an icy calm took over her body. She was ready, she could do this, she told herself, clearing her mind to hear what Zuba was saying.
Ntasi jumped up from the mat where the five girls had been sleeping and looked around the unfamiliar room. Zuba was waking the other girls. They had spent the night in the ‘Tanzi’, the betrothal hut. Realisation flooded her mind and bubble rumbled in her tummy as her excitement grew, mixed with fear. It was her passage to marriage ceremony. She must complete the traditional ‘Mpatanzi’ rituals that prepare her for marriage. Looking around she saw that everyone was awake. Zuba handed her a beautiful pale periwinkle coloured robe. A shiver run down Ntasi’s spine as the soft bluish purplish fabric covered her. The traditional colour of purity, she thought in awe. Only a bride wears this colour and only at her ‘mpatanzi’. She carefully placed a single ‘Vinca’ flower in her hair and breathed in deeply letting her breath out slowly in an effort to calm racing heart. She looked quickly at the vase of ‘vinca’ flowers that her mother would find in the morning. It signified that the rituals had begun.
“Come on,” Zuba took Ntasi’s hand and they joined the others already outside. “We must hurry.”
Even in the dark of the night, Ntasi could see the lovely colourful robes that her friends were wearing. Everything was happening so fast and she felt as if it was happening to someone else, like she was dreaming it all.
It was a steep, rough climb to the Lubigi Falls especially as the girls tried hard not to spoil their delicate robes or scratch themselves. The bride and her companions must be found without blemish. Ntasi had climbed to the Lubigi many times before but never in the dark. She led the way now and was surprised at how easily her bare feet found the familiar path. They made it in no time at all and the girls quickly disrobed and raced each other into the pool by the falls. They had to be in the water before sunrise. Screams and shouts filled the quiet mountain air as one by one the girls jumped into the icy cold water. Ntasi’s tension began to ease as her body adjusted to the water and the girls began to play.
A rainbow appeared over the falls as the sun rose and the cloudy spray of water around the falls took on a bluish purplish hue. The girls fell silent and watched the exquisite display in awe. Ntasi felt her stomach muscles tighten and a flutter began inside. The ancient spirit of purity had arrived and mpatanzi rituals could now truly begin.
What was going to happen next? Ntasi wondered. None of them had ever participated in mpatanzi before. No one knew what happened at daybreak.
“Listen to me everyone,” Zuba’s voice was sharp as it cut into the silence. “The waterfall rite must begin now. Mother told me what to do.”
Ntasi stared at her sister, hearing her words, but powerless to respond. Her heart thumped in her chest and her hands shook. There was no turning back now, she thought, a shiver running down her spine. The strong handsome face of Ndita, flashed before her and an icy calm took over her body. She was ready, she could do this, she told herself, clearing her mind to hear what Zuba was saying.
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