Umphakathi Owakhé Phezu Kwezingodo

Ngumlobeli we-Phaphama!eBenin

“IGANVIÉ ingenye yezindawo eziphuma phambili ngokuheha izivakashi eBenin,” kusho incwadi yeziqondiso yezivakashi eNtshonalanga Afrika. Enye ithi: “Ama-Afrika ngokwawo iwahlaba umxhwele iGanvié; ubona izivakashi zase-Afrika eziningi ngokufanayo nezasentshonalanga.”

IGanvié iyingqayizivele ngempela. Iyidolobhana labantu abangu-15 000 elakhiwe phezu kwezingodo phezu kwamanzi eLake Nokoué, enyakatho yeCotonou, eBenin. EGanvié, awekho amabhayisikili, azikho izimoto, awekho ama-pavement, nemigwaqo ayikho. Uma izakhamuzi zifuna ukuya esikoleni, emakethe, emtholampilo, kumakhelwane noma kwenye indawo, zigibela isikebhe esakhiwe ngokugweda isiqu somuthi we-iroko.

Iningi lemikhaya linezikebhe eziningana—esikababa, esikamama, futhi ngezinye izikhathi nesezingane. Izingane zifunda ukugwedla zisezincane. Lapho iba neminyaka eyisihlanu ubudala, ingane isuke isikwazi ukugwedla isikebhe iyodwa. Ngokushesha isuke isizithemba ngokwanele ukuba ikwazi ukuma esikebheni iphonse inetha elincane lokudoba. Ezinye izingane zijabulela ukubukisa ezivakashini ngokwenza imigilingwane yokuma ngamakhanda ezikebheni zazo.

Emakethe entantayo yaseGanvié, abathengisi, imvamisa abesifazane, bahlala ezikebheni zabo nezimpahla zabo eziyinqwaba phambi kwabo—izinongo, izithelo, izinhlanzi, imithi yokwelapha, izinkuni, utshwala, ngisho nemisakazo. Njengoba bethengisela labo abagwedla izikebhe zabo lapho ukuze bazothenga, bazivikela elangeni elikhipha inhlanzi emanzini ngokufaka izigqoko zelanga zotshani. Ngezinye izikhathi abathengisi kuba amantombazane amancane. Ungakhohliswa ubudala bawo! Alifunda esemancane ikhono labahwebi lokubonisana ngamanani.

Ngesikhathi abesifazane bethenga futhi bethengisa emakethe, amadoda wona asuke ematasa ngokudoba noma ngokufuya izinhlanzi, ngokwenkulumo yabo. Indlela yawo yokubamba izinhlanzi ihlanganisa ukugxumeka amakhulu amagatsha esinqeni sechweba esiwudaka, okwenza kube nehlathi elicinene lezinduku. Izinhlanzi ziphangelana lapho ukuze zidle lamagatsha abolayo. Ngemva kwezinsukwana lamadoda abuya namanetha awo azodoba lezi zinhlanzi.

Indawo Yokucasha Iba Indawo Yokuheha Izivakashi

AmaToffinu aseGanvié ayengebona ngaso sonke isikhathi “Abantu Basemanzini,” njengoba baziwa kanjalo namuhla. Ekuqaleni kwekhulu le-18 leminyaka, abalekela echibini nasemaxhaphozini ukuze asinde ekuphathweni ngesihluku umbuso wase-Afrika ongumakhelwane. Izazi zithi igama elithi Ganvié libonisa lomlando, ngoba olimini lwesiToffinu igama elithi gan lingahunyushwa ngokuthi “sisindisiwe” kanti igama elithi vie lisho “umphakathi.” Khona-ke igama laleli dolobha lelokishi elisechibini lingase lihunyushwe kalula nje ngokuthi “umphakathi wabantu othole ukuthula.”

Kwaba icebo eliphumelelayo ukubalekela endaweni enamaxhaphozi azungeze iLake Nokoué, njengoba izinkolelo ezingokwenkolo zoMbuso ophikisayo zazingavumeli noma iliphi isosha ukuba lingene emanzini noma ezindaweni okungenzeka zihlaselwe izikhukhula. Ngakho-ke leli chibi lanikeza kokubili indlela yokuphila kanye nendawo yokuphepha esitheni. Kuyahlekisa ukuthi lomphakathi osudume kangaka manje, lapho uquqaba lwezivakashi luvakashela khona ngezikebhe, wake waba indawo yokucasha.