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Lenox Lizwi Mhlanga
YOURS truly recently added two more years to the half-century that I have been on this earth. I really felt the full weight of aging on my shoulders. I guess I have been trying to fight a losing battle in pretending to be younger than I am. Don’t we all? The fact that my grandfather died at the grand old age of 87, and my grandmother at 95, with both my parents still alive points to me that I might live as long if not longer.
My grandmother uMaNkiwane was the most humorous person I have known, followed closely by my mother MaSibanda. She had such a bag of tales. I really miss her. Nonetheless, memories of yesteryear are something to treasure.
You see, when you get to my age, history becomes a very relevant topic. You tend to wish time went on reverse. With the grave beckoning, who wouldn’t? I thank God for such a wonderful childhood. I was born in a reasonably affluent family.
My father was and still is a businessman. We had all the creature comforts, including the fact that we had the privilege of owning a television set. It wasn’t surprising because for a long time my father sold TVs and radio sets and I am sure he never paid a penny for ours. Yes, indeed, I am talking pre-1970s.
Think back to the time, before the Internet or the ATM, before PlayStation, DStv, CDs, DVDs and bond coins. Way back,I’m talking about the time of umacatshelana (hide and seek) in the garden or ingqobe or umalalisa ngo come-tenesi (tennis) at the square.
Games like Jim-Bass, tap-tap, ara-wuru, umatshayana, musical chairs, stop sweetie-sweetie, and Christopher Columbus. And how everyone wanted to be the Soviet Union or the USA in World War Three!
How about building a swing from a piece of rope tied to the protruding branch of a peach tree (umpintshisi) where there was no guarantee that the rope would withstand all the strain.
The scratches and resultant broken limbs that would earn one a thorough hiding with deadly ‘swishes’ from the same tree.
And what about the times when you were lucky enough to go to the Centenary Park to eat candy floss (utshinda) and an ice-cream cone. Riding the miniature Choo-choo train operated by Round Table 3.
Watching the peacocks parading their glamorous plumage and the fountain with its constant shower of water spray.
That you awaited and relished fiendishly when it sprinkled you with its cold, albeit refreshing freshness or its changing colours at night. How about the Trade Fair? My then four-year-old sister, Lynette called feya feya! You really lived for that.
What about the dreaded bath times? Taking a bath at 4PM, then having four o’clock tea. And you knew that when you had a bath, no more playing outside.
Having to close the windows at 5PM to keep the mosquitoes out while waiting for TV 1 to start.
Then watching the Muppets, the Flintstones and hey-hey-hey Fat Albert, Voltron, Care Bears, Button Moon followed by Star Trek, Voyage to the bottom of the sea, Kojak or Hawaii 5-0.
Our parents insisted on a vow of silence during the news. Strictly no noise, perhaps because they did not want to be left out of the gossip at work.
When the weather report started, you were sent to bed.
School holidays meant either extra lessons or going to the sticks ukuyakudla amagwadla lomxhanxa. It would be the best days of the holidays, romping naked in the river while looking after grandmother’s cattle.
A few days before school started again, you would plead with your parents to buy new socks.
Since the ones you had had bullet holes or amazambane as we called them.
At Christmas, it was a time for negotiation. You would have to choose between new clothes or uniform.
It was a painful choice to make. But most times, of course, you got both. Oh, our loving parents, how they managed you can never say. The night before the first day of school you couldn’t get any sleep.
Shoes were polished until you could see your name in large capitals, uniform pressed and new stationery (that your parents got from work!)
First thing in the morning, you would get your brand new lunch box with a tomato sandwich and cool drink. Who would forget the smell of Mazoe Orange juice?
With Dandy bubble gum going for a cent, ice-cream from Dairibord, the happy chappie on the corner with his little cart.
Yes, running to the corner to buy amarama, amaputi, pennycools or ichongo, all for not more than a dollar?
Do you remember?
derick.khumalo