{"id":375,"date":"2013-07-23T14:10:10","date_gmt":"2013-07-23T13:10:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buzzsouthafrica.com\/?p=375"},"modified":"2019-11-06T21:05:54","modified_gmt":"2019-11-06T20:05:54","slug":"pondo-tribe-culture-language-and-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buzzsouthafrica.com\/pondo-tribe-culture-language-and-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Pondo Tribe – History, Language & Culture"},"content":{"rendered":"
Pondo, also referred to as Phondo, is one of the several ethnic groups than can be found on the the African continent. The Ponda tribe happens to be a group of people who reside in Pondoland or the sub-region of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. This term was used to denote the natives belonging to this region.<\/p>\n
The members of the tribe are known for maintaining unity and building strong connections with their fellow brothers. They believe in sentimental qualities like sharing, oneness in diversity, togetherness, love and commitment. Like the Xhosa people, the Pondo people are also referred to as the red people on account of the russet red blankets they wear and their own red skins dusted with local clay. The red blanket is worn by boys and girls until marriage where it is changed for a blue one. Head-dresses of beads on copper wires denotes adolescence, but are worn only for ceremonial purposes.<\/p>\n
This tribe initially consisted of several minor groups which were later brought together under a single group called amaXhosa. This assimilation took place in the homeland of Transkei, a place that holds a deep historical significance for tribe members. After the unification of the clan, the elephant was chosen as the deity figure and represented their ancestry. The animal was symbolic of the peaceful nature of the natives and their compassionate hearts.<\/p>\n
The tribe’s people were never involved in racism or wars in the past. They were never defeated in battles and they loved inviting other clans to their festivals so as to promote social unity.<\/p>\n