Lukalo, Venda and Shangaan-Tsonga

Lukalo is a very nice village.  I am blessed because the village tap at the top of the hill gets it's water from a pipe by the tar road that comes from a dam.  We have a plentiful supply unlike some rural areas of South Africa.  We have only had one day that we had to go without water because they were fixing the pipe.

Fetching water at the tap

Many of the houses here are built in a traditional round shape.  They are made of homemade brick covered with cement. There are multiple buildings like this with each one serving a special purpose - a kitchen, bedroom, sitting room. Although the more square western type of homes with multiple rooms under one roof are now being built. Thatch was used on the roofs of these round buildings and I have been told that the houses with thatched roofs are much cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. But these roofs have to be replaced or new thatch has to be added which makes upkeep an constant task. Also things can live in these roofs. One PCV lives in a large round house and said things would fall from the roof onto his belongings. His father suggested he put cardboard in the rafters which has helped.

Round houses - separate rooms

Lukalo has a beautiful hill with patches of green stone.

Lukalo Hill

There are mango trees everywhere.  According to a random fact found at http://www.golimpopo.com/events_details.php?event_id=120 "Limpopo has the largest areas inhabited by rural communities who are still living as they used to for centuries".  The following picture was taken under the bridge separating Venda from the Shangaan-Tsonga area of Limpopo.

Washing clothes and hanging them out to dry

The Venda and Shangaan-Tsonga people are very nice.  I saw these women and asked if I could take a picture of them in their traditional clothes.  They said yes and began doing their traditional dance for me.  First one woman, then another joined her and then more joined them.  Notice how white their shoes are.  Amazing as mine are always covered in dust.  They are holding up a cloth that goes over their clothes so I can see their skirts.  They are very proud of their clothes and their dancing.

Shangaan-Tsonga dancers in traditional clothes

According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsonga_people the Tsonga people have gained attention for their low-tech, lo-fi dance music called Tsonga electro which has been pioneered by South African producer "Dog".