Azaghvana E-Book 2003 - Flipbook - Page 381
Plate 58c: PATSA PATSA – worn generally during dzum zugune
Leg decorations. The hide was tied round the legs with strips of leather
fibre (or bean twigs or even plastic). Beads are attached along with the
upper band. We have no record of whether they played a specific role
during dzum zugune, but assume they were worn by men who might
not yet have performed it but who participated in the dances and
celebrations of neighbours who had recently performed it.
Plate 58d: KHWA KHWA – worn by ngwa hamitiwe and men anticipating dzum zugune
Worn around ankles or waist during traditional dances. The crotal bells
made mainly of brass were attached to a string. Apparently in the past
fibre was used to fix them around the ankles for dancing. They were
worn by the young men who had not yet started dzum zugune, when
performing the dance at the place called Sarara (see Figure 22). Khwa
khwa crotal bells were also worn at the place Fkagh ga Maruwa, by the
performers of ngwa hamtiwe, the first stage of dzum zugune. They
would have put on the dresses at the place Fkagh Dzga the day before,
by tying the khwa khwa around the waist. This was after they had put
on their goatskins and speargrass ropes, and had hung the hamtiwe
plant around their necks. This all took place in front of the elders who
had already completed dzum zugune, and who had just finished
counting the jahurimbe pots of the ngwa hamtiwe.
Plate 58e: DZADZA – worn by men anticipating dzum zugune
Lower leg covers made of fresh palm fronds worn on both
legs. It formed part of the dress young men who had not yet
started dzum zugune. My friend Zakariya Kwire, who had
experienced dzum zugune in the 1940s, made two new dzadza
for us, and we see John wearing them. We remember the
many uses of the wurighe tree (Borassus aethiopum) from
Chapter 3.10, and remember that the wurighe tree was one of
the trees thaghaya (the seventh born) inherited.
Other objects used for dzum zugune
Plate 59a: JAHURIMBE – used by ngwa hamtiwe and during fstaha
Jahurimbe – clay pot used for beer to perform ngwa hamtiwe, the first
stage of dzum zugune. Existed in a variety of sizes. The pot was a bowl
on a decorated stand. Each of the ngwa hamtiwe brought a jahurimbe
filled with beer to Fkah Dzga (see Figure 22) to be counted by the elders
of Ghwa'a who had completed dzum zugune. The pot was stored in the
'stomach' of thala, or together with the suteke pot inside the lower loft
(gude tighe) of the first wife's room.
Was also used by the
ngwa kwalanglanga
and the ngwa yiye to
perform fstaha
379
