Name: Hlengiwe Ngcobo
Student number: 69464146
Assessment no6: 688684
Introduction
My name is Hlengiwe Ngcobo I am doing LLB Degree I will be writing an AFL
assessment of which is the last and final. The assessment will group into sub topics
which are: taking the screen shot, family tree,clan and totems, cultural and
accessions and uBuntu and Helping others. Which I hope I gonna tackle well in
submitting on what the module as thought me.
1. First portfolio
Task1: screenshot
TASK2: portfolio reflection
My name is Hlengiwe Ngcobo
I come from kwaZulu Natal at Pietermaritzburg in Elandskop location under chief
Nsikayezwe Zondi.
I am speaking isiZulu and I know isiXhosa, seSotho and English ihave friend who are
Xhosas and I used to visit the Harding area during the school holidays. English was
the additional language from primary until high school so that where I learned
English.
I use English language when speaking with others that does not understand my
language so we use English as means of communication also when conducting
interviews it is the most used language.
Not every language reflects who you are we sometimes use the additional language
in order to communicate with other nations so that makes the communication much
easier.
I was encouraged to study at Unisa by the facts that it is an long distance learning
institute meaning I can work while studying since I had to be a provider for the family
so in order for me to continue feeding the family I had to opt in for online studies.
I am studying towards LLB and I am doing the second year. I want people to see me
as a future jurist whose well groomed and mannered. AFL 1501 I am expecting to
learn more about languages different rituals , how to build and groom a healthy
community and also reached on how to tackle the world. My life has changed a lot
since I learned AFL1501 I see the world in a positive perspective view that we are all
equal regardless of who were are.
2. Second portfolio
Task1: Family tree
TASK2: Clan and totems
a) I chose Zulu South African culture and reason for choosing is because I believe
there is a lot that I need to learn about the culture in order for to be able to
pass the information to next generation.
b) I chose the Ingwe (leopard) totem bacause leopards symbolises all that is
noble, courageous and honourable.
c) Leopard skin are used in ceremonial wear by Zulu royalty. As the night falls
male leopards starts calling to asserts it territory with three to four rasping
grunts and then go silent, both for hunting stealth and so on as not to
advertise it whereabouts to lions in the area. In life span they live up to 9 to 14
years. No two leopards have the same markings, their rosettes are individual.
http:www.thandasafari.co.za/blog/the-african-leopard-interesting-facts-about
-them/
d) The leopard was first described in 1758 and several subspecies were proposed
in the 19th and 20th century. Today 8 subspecies are recognised in its wide
range in Africa and Asia. It initially evolved in Africa during the early
Pleistocene before migrating into Eurasia around early middle Pleistocene
transition. It was present across Europe, but became extinct in the region at
the of late Pleistocene around 11 000 years ago. The leopard is one of the five
extant species in the genus panthera. It has a pale yellowish to dark golden
fur with dark spots grouped in rosettes. It body is slender and muscular
reaching a length of 92-183cm (36-72 in) with 66-102cm(26-40 in) long tail and
shoulder height of 30,9-72kg(68-159 in) and females 20.5-43 kg (45-95 in)
e) According to my culture the respectful way to address an elder is by calling
him Baba if he is a male if she is a female you adress by calling her mama. We
do not call an elderly person by his or her name.
f) The western culture has tremendously impacted on African traditional society
in a very positive and negative dimension. It has given rise to acculturation
and improved on the value system in the African society. Obviously, culture is
simply the way of life of any given people that is transmittable from one
generation to another. It incorporates issues that bother on technological
development, language, marriage, mode of dressing, arts and craft, food,
festivity, religion, social life, education and the political system of the people.
This research carefully made, use of the analytical method. Books, internet
sources and journals were used in this research. The research went further to
address issues that bother on definition of culture and western culture, types
of culture and characteristics of culture, causes of culture change and impact
of Western culture on traditional African society: problems and prospects. The
research recommends amongst others that in order to avoid African culture
extinction, there is an urgent need for cultural restoration.
by Cm Sibani.2018.cited by 64
3. Third portfolio
TASK1: cultural and occasions
a)My research is based on a Zulu traditional wedding
Once lobola has been paid izibizo will follow, where gifts are given to the bride’s
family, followed by umbondo where the bride reciprocates by buying groceries for
the groom’s family, and finally the actual wedding or umabo.
The groom buys two cows which are slaughtered and eaten on the day of the
ceremony. He also buys a goat that is slaughtered after the head of the family has
spoken. The father of the groom opens the ceremony by welcoming his new
daughter, with the bride’s father also saying some words, as a sign that he approves
of the union. After the ceremony there is dancing and food.While gifts and money
are given to the bride’s family prior to the wedding, on the day of the umabo it is the
turn of the bride to give the gifts. The exchange of gifts symbolises the forming of a
new bond between the two families.
The bride’s family buys grass mats, blankets for the women, beer pots for the men,
as well as some pieces of furniture and brooms, which are given out to guests at the
wedding by the bridesmaids and sisters of the bride. The bride sits on a grass mat,
and refrains from talking or looking at anyone out of respect, while her bridesmaids
hand out the gifts. The names of the various people receiving the gifts are called out
one by one. The wedding guests will lie on the grass mats, before being covered with
a blanket by a family member from the bride’s side. They then sing and dance as a
sign of appreciation for the gifts. Older women are called first, followed by the
groom’s sisters, and finally the men. The groom is the last person to be called
The traditional Zulu wedding always takes place at the family home of the groom.
The bride will leave her home early in the morning, covered in a blanket given to her
by her mother. The bride’s father leads her to her new family home, and she is
advised not to look back, so as not to invite bad luck. The bride’s father will call out
the family’s clan names, telling the ancestors that his daughter is officially leaving
home to join another family. On arrival at the groom’s house the bride must walk
around the house so as to be introduced to her hsuband’s ancestors, before entering
the home through the kitchen while nobody is noticing her – the groom’s family will
pay a penalty for not being aware of the bride – they should have gone to fetch her.
The bride’s family also comes early in the morning, with the wedding ceremony
starting at around midday.
b)The part that is important on a traditional wedding is Umabo. It is believed that
you are not fully married when you have not performed ritual. Umabo is a way of
appeasing with the ancestors and only through this ritual that ancestors will
recognise the union. Some couple sometimes do not perform the ritual their marriage
faces up with many difficulties, the bride struggles to conceive children and there is
rare peace on their marriage
https://i1.wp.com/www.ulwaziprogramme.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/grass-
mat.jpg
https://i1.wp.com/www.ulwaziprogramme.org/wp-
content/uploads/2017/01/blanket.jpg
https://i0.wp.com/www.ulwaziprogramme.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/grass-
mat-2.jpg
4. Fourth portfolio:
TASK1: Ubuntu and helping others
a) Ubuntu is the correct behaviour. Ubuntu refers to behaving well towards
others or acting in ways that benefit the community, such acts could be as
simple as helping a stranger in need or much more complex ways of relating
with other. A person who behaves like this has uBuntu
b) Donating is a sign of Ubuntu as a person who is donating will donate or
volunteer without expecting payment in return, for example the project Gift Of
The Givers always give back to the needy communities without nothing in
return, we are now reaching the festive season in most societies people will be
donating with groceries for those who are in need in and around the
communities.
c) Yes I would donate. I love lending a helping hand. I believe that when you are
donating you are not only doing it for yourself but also fo forefathers and also
for your children that your name continues to live even if you are no longer
around.
d) Volunteering is important because it enables individuals to help others in a
selfless way. When individuals volunteer they may choose to help people,
support philanthropic causes and provide assistance to their local community.
Volunteering also provide a healthy boost to self-esteem, self-confidence and
life satisfaction.
e) Yes I once donated with all my furniture, I was renting so when going back
home I decided that I would donate my furniture to the person who needed it
the most and turns out to be a neighbour.
f) It had a good impact on her since she was using a sponge for sleeping, she
now had something to rest on peacefully. It also made me feel good seeing
someone smiling ecause of the genourosity I gave to her.
TASK2: final reflection
With AFL1501 I have gained a lot of knowledge with different languages and
tribes. How important it is to know the history of your language. The language
may be the same but be used differently e.g Good afternoon and afternoon
are off the same use with different perspective. In each speech situation the
meaning of words is of a crucial importance when communicating.
I have also gained knowledge that language is the process of education,
There is a strong relationship between oral tradition as an aspect of people's
lives and language as an instrument for initiating learners into life of society,
also language can be used for storytelling.
Interpersonal relationship they are related to aspect of our lives on how we
are related to people and how we introduce ourselves. Knowing your identity
at it best. Gained that our interpersonal relationship can be either positive or
negative but tells a real story of who we are and what we are made off.
People can have multiracial relationship and still continue to apply the spirit of
Ubuntu which is not judging people by their nationality and tribe.
Ubuntu goes a long way I learned that you do not help people because you
know them, even stranges in need of any help you can offer you help them.
The communities still practices uBuntu as whole for example if death occurs to
particular family, females of the area goes to see where they can lend a
helping hand. Some evn arrive with groceries to help contribute in funeral
preparations. In some rural areas they go to Induna to collect an exercise two
boys will be going house to house collecting donations of money that helps a
lot because some are disadvantageous families.
Language has influenced me so good because now I am willingly to learn
other languages even foreign languages because sometimes we face
difficulties when going to other countries we are obligated to hire translators
for them to translate on what is being said. It is good atleast to know atleast
four different languages expect for your mother's tongue.
