Its been a while since I wrote some thing on this blog and I’m sure many would assume I have decided to let go of my new found love I guess I’m not but been taken up by the Ayobaness of this world especially the world cup which has seen African black, white Indians and colored taking pride in being African.
As we all enjoyed the moment my attention was turned to the subject of forced marriage many people would wonder why bring up such an issue during the busiest month of this continent but this was never a subject of my own making rather drawn into it by a documentary I watch on one television channel taking about forced marriages known as Tjhabediso in some language.
For many people born towards the end of the 19thcentury and in urban centres with sophisticated parents (coconut) Tjhabediso would be a very complex subject and incomprehensible to them but I would try and explain how it was done in very simple terms so as to avoid sophism, Once the boy felt was of right age to get married he would identify a girl around the village of course such girls usually would be in good standing order both morally and with good cultural values during that time he would pay the girl’s family a visit with a friend usually this happened when the parents of the girl where away and over a period of time as the girl is used to the visitation and evening village stroll the move to strike is hitched the boy would organized a few of his comrades (gents) and stage them along their path as soon as the couple enters the surrounded zone the operation is carried out with military precision this is was done to avoid any rescue happening from the girls family.
This was the practice in the African tradition for many tribes from Cape to Cairo and today just a few tribes still run with that form of art when finding a wife to many women rights activities my mum included Tjhobediso represented the worst form of women abuse this world has ever known and both the promoters and support of this practice should best be described as male chauvinists.
Have been blushing and smiling alone and my imaginations ran wild seeing my self on the busy Kampala Road waiting on my prey and as soon as the traffic volume is high me and my comrades we would pounce on our target and she will be screaming and kicking in tight fitting jeans as the male crowd gather to offer more support next time I will let u know why its worth going the Tjhobediso way
July 15, 2010 at 6:26 am
This is very rude, archaic and uncivilized, how come u even think about it?
March 15, 2011 at 3:46 pm
My (Tuelo – 25 – Pta) gf (Nhlanhla – 20 – Jhb) & i recently met by “love at first sight”, and within two weeks we decided to move into my house in Pta without neither of our parent’s approval. We intend to get engaged & eventually married, but we fear that this might be considered to be tjhobediso in her parent’s eyes. I’m a Sotho man by blood and she is Xhosa. Your advise would be much appreciated because we don’t want to wind anybody the wrong way, especially the law.
April 1, 2011 at 1:14 pm
All i can say respect our culture its who we are i know some time u could have issues mainly to do with costs guess what out families will always help the situation enage every one