Kosi Bay

Sunday, February 23rd

The next day after the Marula Festival, we spent some time at Kosi Bay. We had been camping nearby so it was a short four wheeling expedition away. The bay was huge, with tons of little cesspools of marine life and places to snorkel. I had to really hold myself back from brining home all the cool shells I found because the majority were inhabited by hermit crabs and snails. 

Back at the campsite we cooked a massive breakfast Sunday morning for everyone in the campsite communal kitchen.

Some of the PTs, OTs, and Dieticians.

Exhausting weekend for sure, but made my time in Mseleni just that much more special!!

Umthayi Marula Festival 2014

February 22, 2014

Upon much convincing by the Zulu sisters (nurses) at the hospital, Fem and I were coaxed into attend one of KwaZulu-Natal's annual traditional celebrations. The annual uMthayi Marula festival (i.e. the "first fruit festival") is an age old tradition where all residents under the Tembe traditional leadership bring their first batch of brewed amarula beer to present to Inkosi (the Zulu king), who will sample the first drink of the season before the whole community can join in. Amarula is brewed from the local Marula fruit, which ripens on trees between December and May.

Sister Nyawo, one of the nurses, supplies us with traditional Zulu Festival clothing, which consisted of sarong wrap skirts and lots of colorful beaded jewelry. 

As soon as we arrive, we found that we were quite the attraction being, literally, the only white people for miles! Everyone was so flattered that we dressed in their traditional clothing that we received endless requests for pictures. Clearly this form of flattery had not been seen by the Zulu people before.

The festival was surprisingly well organized, with a proper stage for music and dancing and tents with table settings for lunch. 

We spent much time watching the musicians and dancers, who ranged from very young to quite elderly. The dancing especially was fantastic to watch... If only I could move like that!!! 

Some women in our tent wearing traditional beaded Zulu hats and jewelry.

As the day went on, government officials arrived from Swaziland and Mozambique.

 The Zulu King made an entrance in a tribal sort of chanting/dancing presentation of the first Marula fruit harvest and Amarula liquor. He is the shorter man in the center facing me? With the white and black ring on his head.

This was quite possibly one of the nearest things I've ever watched. After this presentation dance/chant, government officials used the venue as an opportunity to give speeches to the people about plans for the upcoming year. Then we were served food and the music started up again full force! One of the singers/dancers actually asked Fem and I to take a picture with him! Haha. When he went on stage to sing, the people were so excited they screamed and pushed over an entire steel gate so they could be closer to the stage! 

After the gate was pushed over, this seemed to be the beginning of the crazy drinking and dancing. Fem was almost tackled by an old Gogo who had had a little too much Amarula, but was enjoying herself dancing so much! She was adorable.

Being the sort of festival celebrities it seemed, we were even interviewed by the South African National News! ...not my favorite part haha...

In the end we were fortunate enough see a very historical part of African Zulu culture and spend the day with our Zulu nurses. 

Definitely a day to remember!!