TRADITIONAL Zulu dance has become a unifying factor for warring villagers in rural uMsinga in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
The villages have been ravaged by inter-tribal factionalism for many decades.
Hundreds of people have died since the low-intensity war flared up in the 1960s and 1990s, and was allowed to fester by the apartheid regime.
Now traditional leaders are using a traditional dance and music festival to bring back ubuntu among the clans. The festival, known as Ingoma yase Machunwini, aims to curb faction fights.
On Tuesday, residents of uMsinga and surrounding areas packed the local field to participate in the annual festival. Over the years, communities had bleak festive seasons when migrant labourers returned home to fight instead of enjoying the holidays with their families.
Organiser Mbongeleni "Makhuzwayo" Mkhize said the era of wars came to an end when he introduced the festival. He said the idea came to him in 1996 after realising that scores of people were dying in faction fights.
"There was so much hatred among the clans before we introduced the Ingoma. The only solution was to put away guns and enjoy the festive season.
"Now the event forms part of the holidays calendar and is also endorsed by the government. People come together to enjoy themselves and to compete in traditional dance," Mkhize said.
He said groups which participate in the event are drawn from different villages. "We have turned it into a colourful event that takes place around the December holidays. We are grateful that this event has brought peace among the communities," Mkhize said.
The colourful event attracted more than 15000 people who came to see 47 music groups perform.
Mkhize said hosting the festival is done on a rotational basis to ensure that each village gets a chance to host it. The event is funded by the provincial department of arts and culture.
Bid to unite clans in the KZN midlands
TRADITIONAL Zulu dance has become a unifying factor for warring villagers in rural uMsinga in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
The villages have been ravaged by inter-tribal factionalism for many decades.
Hundreds of people have died since the low-intensity war flared up in the 1960s and 1990s, and was allowed to fester by the apartheid regime.
Now traditional leaders are using a traditional dance and music festival to bring back ubuntu among the clans. The festival, known as Ingoma yase Machunwini, aims to curb faction fights.
On Tuesday, residents of uMsinga and surrounding areas packed the local field to participate in the annual festival. Over the years, communities had bleak festive seasons when migrant labourers returned home to fight instead of enjoying the holidays with their families.
Organiser Mbongeleni "Makhuzwayo" Mkhize said the era of wars came to an end when he introduced the festival. He said the idea came to him in 1996 after realising that scores of people were dying in faction fights.
"There was so much hatred among the clans before we introduced the Ingoma. The only solution was to put away guns and enjoy the festive season.
"Now the event forms part of the holidays calendar and is also endorsed by the government. People come together to enjoy themselves and to compete in traditional dance," Mkhize said.
He said groups which participate in the event are drawn from different villages. "We have turned it into a colourful event that takes place around the December holidays. We are grateful that this event has brought peace among the communities," Mkhize said.
The colourful event attracted more than 15000 people who came to see 47 music groups perform.
Mkhize said hosting the festival is done on a rotational basis to ensure that each village gets a chance to host it. The event is funded by the provincial department of arts and culture.
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