EASTER AND ELECTIONS

We are reminded at this time of year of Easter, as the holidays approach, the shops fill with chocolate eggs and hot-cross buns and people talk of giving up various vices for lent. With Easter on our minds, we thought that you may be interested to hear about the way most Xhosa speaking people celebrate Easter.

With our second democratic election on June 2 we have also included some relevant “Election” vocabulary as well as the National Anthem to remind us of the need for unity during what can often be negative and divisive times.

IPASIKA  EASTER

To most Xhosa speaking people Easter is not only a religious occasion but also a time for getting together with family and friends. Many people working in urban areas like to go “home” to the Eastern Cape during this time.

Churches in a particular area will agree to hold the Easter services at one main church – so, for example, the Methodist (amaWesile) will announce that in 1999 the Easter Services will be held at the church in Langa. People come from all around the Province - arriving in busses, taxis and their own transport.

The Easter season starts on Palm Sunday (Icawe yamahlamvu). People are given palms or branches and form a procession through the streets to the church.

On Good Friday people start arriving at the church from as early as 9am. People usually wear the uniform of the church group they belong to – eg. the mothers’ group or youth group. The service is very long (can be up to 10 hours), with the main feature being the 7 preachers, each of whom will give a sermon on one of Jesus’ 7 last words. Saturday is considered “activity day” for the youth who perform sketches, play music and sing.

Easter Sunday (Imini yoVuko – Day of the Rising) is the most important day of the whole season. People (sometimes only the women) go to the local graveyard at about 4am and shout “Uvukile!” (He is risen!).

A feast is held after each of the services (people pay Church dues to fund such occasions) - often in the open air as the numbers are so great. Chocolate easter eggs and hot-cross buns are NOT usual Easter fare, neither is it traditional to say “Happy Easter”.

People leave the church with the priest and deacons in front, followed by the choir and congregation and once outside form a circle and shake hands while singing a hymn.

UNYULO  ELECTIONS

In rural areas members of the community (mostly men) meet and elect a headman (always a man) by a show of hands (Baphakamisa izandla). People elect according to the “wisdom” of the candidate. Someone who knows the community well and has shown himself to be a problem solver is considered wise.

Election Vocabulary

Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika
(This version is one of many variations)

Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika    Lord bless Africa
Maluphakamis’ uphondo lwayo   May her horn be raised
Yizwa imithandazo yethu    Hear our prayers
Nkosi sikelela, nkosi sikelela   Lord bless us, Lord bless us.

Woza moya [sikelela nkosi] [woza woza] Come spirt, bless us Lord
Woza moya oyingcwele    Come Holy Spirit
Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo.  Bless us, the family (of Africa).

(The next section is Sotho)
Morena boloka sechaba saheso   Lord take care of the nation
Ofedise dintoa lematsoenyeho   Stop the struggle and frustrations

[Oseboloke] Oseboloke    Save it, save it
[Oseboloke morena]    Save it Lord, save it
Sechaba saheso     Our nation
Sechaba saAfrika     Our Africa.

Amandla – ngawethu! The power – it is ours!

SAYINGS AND EXPRESSIONS

We thought you might enjoy trying out some of these expressions:

Iqaqa aliziva kunuka
Literally: A polecat does not smell itself
Figuratively: You never recognize your own faults

Ooxam bayaphaxulana
Literally: The iguanas are hitting each other in a clumsy manner
Figuratively: There is no difference between them – the one is as useless as the other

Zingasuzela zityebile
Literally: When they (the bees) sting they are rich
Figuratively: A person will react violently when something is mentioned that pricks the conscience.

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