Makoti Enters the Kraal

By Phangisile Mtshali

Ndiwe is Makoti - a new bride of the Mantshinga family. Madly in love and excited for her new life, she soon realises that not all is as it seems, in particular the strange, menacing family cat, Madevana. Just what role does the feline play in the family? And why is she treated with such respect and awe?

Ndiwe is in terrible danger, from many different quarters. With the aid of a mysterious helper, she must not only protect herself, but the lives of her children – with or without her beloved husband, Akha.

“An absorbing, emotional and chilling tale of African mythology and the practice of witchcraft, Makoti Enters the Kraal is also a fascinating account of makoti, exploring the life and culture of African family life and will keep you gripped until the last page.”
— Karen Perkins, bestselling author of the Valkyrie Series and Thores-Cross

• Language: English
• Publisher: Phangisile Mtshali
• Release date: Oct 21, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301371747

Phangisile Mtshali

I love myself, family, and Africa. I enjoy farming, music, writing, reading sci-fi/fantasy and traveling. I was born to the Mtshali Clan in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal. That is on the east coast on the southern tip of Africa. Mine was a farming family, where music was a hobby and singing a daily activity. I am a proud mother to Chikondi Mangaliso Msizi, a wife to Sihlwele Manciya and sister to Lindiwe, Jabulani, Bonginkosi, Muzomuhle and Zipho. Oh, my friends are the family members I have chosen and adopted. I trained as a journo and I masquerade as a farmer and hotelier (KwaHlangabeza.heroku.com). I am a social entrepreneur dedicated to helping communities in the fight against HIV in Africa, viral Hepatitis and Diabetes in China and India. My motto is: "Communities have an in-built ability to survive - they know best what is good for them and they know how to put their 'collective' foot down." When I grow up I will be a sci-fi and fantasy writer, a public speaker and continue to see the world. For now I want to share with you about my life, my travels and the (unbelievable) people I meet."

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DEDICATION

To my mother, Nompi MaMthethwa Mtshali who was Umakoti till the end of her days.

To my mother-in-law, Nobongile Manciya, who embraced me like the daughter she never had and protects me like a mother hen.

To all the brides, omakoti, who have tales they cannot tell.

CONTENTS

Dedication

1. Makoti Enters The Kraal

2. Meet Other Family Members

3. Madevana, The Possessor

4. The Ritual, The Fantasy

5. Kotiza Mko

6. The Feast

7. The Initiation, The Revelation

8. The Village

9. The Pregnancy Comes

10. The Cat Fight

11. The Battle

12. The Burial, The Mourning

13. The Lull

14. The Arrival

15. The Mark

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Glossary

1. Makoti Enters The Kraal

‘What have I done? What possessed me? My parents, my in-laws and the other makotis [1] warned me I should not enter the kraal!’

The words burst out of her mouth as she sat forlornly by the water well. She was waiting for the dirt to settle before she filled her bucket and must have dozed off.

For days now, Ndiwe, the youngest of the Mantshinga makotis, had been haunted by her actions. She could not make up her mind whether it had been defiance, stupidity or curiosity that had led her to sneak into the kraal.

Well, luckily she was not a cat; had she been, curiosity would certainly have killed her when she had come face-to-face or, more correctly, face-to-whiskers with the homestead cat, Madevana.

Putting aside her self-reproach for entering the kraal, this cat was her main problem. Ndiwe felt as if they were competing for her husband’s time and affection.

It was silly, but her gut told her that this cat was trouble, although she could not put her finger on why.

She had found Madevana holding court with some unseen audience at the far corner of the kraal on that dreadful day, and was almost halfway into the kraal when Madevana had looked at her with a sinister smile. Ndiwe had almost heard the words in her head, ‘What are you doing here? You are a new makoti and have not yet been initiated. Get out. Leave this kraal, and you will forget about these few moments. Just remember that you were not supposed to come into the kraal.’

Ndiwe was still shaking with fear and disbelief at the recollection. Actually, all she remembered was that she had gone inside the kraal, which was a forbidden act. As for being chided by Madevana, the cat, she thought that must have been her mind playing tricks on her, or maybe a stress-induced hallucination from the gruelling household chores she was expected to perform as a makoti – a new bride.

*

Her older sister had always told her that she had an active imagination. But to imagine that Madevana had unseen friends, and that this cat had actually spoken to her! That was more than imagination; that was a sign of losing one’s mind.

It had been a week ago that her curiosity, or stupidity, had led to her breaking the one rule she had been told not to at any cost. But what was she supposed to do? There had been no children around and she had wanted to get cow dung so she could freshen the floor of her house. Actually, there was another place she had been told not to enter; her mother-in-law’s bedroom. That did not pose any problem, though, as the room was always dark and dingy, as well as overcrowded with stuff that had been hoarded over the years. But the kraal – she had just deemed it to be such an inconvenience and a threat to her new marriage to be barred from entering it when they all knew that once a week she had to smear fresh cow dung on her floors.

But maybe there had been another reason for her to go into the kraal? In the few months since she had moved into her marital home, she had noticed that her husband, Akha, the youngest of the eight siblings, spent a disproportionate amount of time in the kraal, even at odd hours of the night.

About three months ago, she had woken up with a start at about 3 a.m. She had immediately reached out for the warmth and comfort of Akha’s arms, but, after fumbling for a few minutes, she had realized that she was on her own. In confusion and with concern, she had cast her eyes around the dark rondavel, then left the bed to peep through the window.

She had seen who she’d thought was Akha, stark naked in the kraal, although she had not had a good view. Just as she was about to call out his name, the dreaded Madevana had jumped on to the outside windowsill and given her the evil eye, baring her fangs.

Ndiwe had fallen back; shocked and scared.

The following morning, she did not feel able to