yay, music to my ears... my Professor finally utter the few unmistakable words "permission to submit". we met on Monday to review my last few chapters, the core chapter and conclusion, which he believed were near ready. a few more minor adjustments to the copy, ensuring the style is consistent .. and were "ready to submit". obviously, made has to get my forms, familarise myself with the remaining process and prepare for the grand submission this month!! whohoo)))

Yeah, unimpressive play on words but Xulu is actually the surname of my personal assistant Buyi. Even that is an abbreviation for Buyisiwe from a culture I barely know...the Zulu. I am always open to learning and experiencing new cultures, yet interestingly less so about my fellow Afrcans, to which one often applies a simple generalisation.

Last weekend was an eye opener though, Buyi got married to a man she had hardly known for long. I actually know of no boyfriend until she surprised us all with this unexpected announcement. She noted though that she would never marry a Zulu, the men being to dominant and inconsiderate. I can't comment knowing less about how to differentiate these tribes, though even my Zimbabwean sidekick Nhlanhla had a few things to share, describing the Khosa as lazy, the Tswane a sweet and friendly and the Shona as humble. Buyi's new husband is Shona originally from Mozambique and still carrying the tradition. It further struck me that she had no intention of kissing the man before being wed, and certainly no other intent than getting joined in matremony first.

The wedding was impressive. She arrived in a top down BMW 650i, flown in by this charriot together with her 6 brides maids. She wore a stunning white placed amongst the ontorage in striking, but varied, purple dressed. They teamed up in the town hall with the groom.and 6 further gents in polished white as best men. The reason for this supportive group was to lead the two-and-a-half song long dances for the collective of 14 to cross the hall. The swung their way pasted the 140 seated guest to the front, where they faced a great podium at which they would be seated later. The cermony ran on African time however. It wa supposed to have started at 9 yet the bride arrived at 10:45. The photoshoot before lunch was guestimated at 30 minutes which through various delays pushed lunch out to 15:00.

Amazingly so, when we retured into the hall for lunch, the people mass had increased to 250 people with nealy seated location residents having filled up three provisioned rows at the back. Everybody had to eat though, and even a tasty desert was provided. The speeches continued in various African toungs for the afternoon. It seemed each immediate and extended family member had something important to say. The space filled with many halelulijas, amens and prays-the-lord throughout the entire day which increased to the wise words of advises given to the newly wed couple.

Overall, beautiful and well done though long and exhausting, especially interesting however when your the only white face amongst 250 fellow South Africans.




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