© 2020 Dr Margaret Sheppard
Visit to Chief’s Kgotla
Then at about 10 a.m. the men led off in procession to the Chief's kgotla. The men marched in two lines with those wearing kilts at the back linking the two, the Baruti led. Next followed two female choirs, one wearing bright turquoise dresses with silver Z.C.C. buttons and green woolen hats with matching dark green ties. The second wore dark green skirts, bright yellow tops and matching green head scarves. Behind the rest of the women followed.
On the way we stopped several times for the men to do some special singing and dancing.
Eventually at about 11.00 a.m. we arrived at the kgotla where the Chief and Elders were already seated on their kgotla chairs. The Senior Moruti (Church Leader) introduced the ZCC Congregations and stated how they had been gathered at a local member’s house to celebrate his Wedding. A service followed and money that had been collected from the congregation was presented to the Chief. The idea of this gift was to please the Chief because by pleasing him, Badimo (Ancestors) would in turn be pleased and they would mediate for good rain. In addition the Chief would also pray to his Badimo for rain.
Villagers watch as the ZCC march through the village to the Chief’s Kgotla
On the way we stopped several times for the men to do some special singing and dancing and perform acrobatics.
During the Service the Choirs from the various Congregations who had attended the wedding service sang and danced for the Chief and the Elders. Several villagers had gathered at the Chief’s Kgotla to watch.
The idea behind going to the kgotla was to formally introduce the visiting congregations to the Chief -
At about 1.00 p.m. we returned from the kgotla and the visitors were served with the wedding feast.
During the afternoon the boloi items were displayed, treated with Holy Water and Zion prayers to neutralise their danger to the family.
Processing in formation through the village
MaScotch Choir.
These Scottish costumes and their dancing, enables these MaScotch to “see” location of boloi items.
Following the speeches and presentation to the Chief, the Choirs sang and danced for the Chief. This is a traditional practice for tribal gatherings at the Chief’s Kgotla for e.g. Dikgafela, Independence Day celebrations etc. when different groups perform before the Chief.