Umamas and Ubabas-the Mamas and the Papas

Comming back to work from a 5day break in Durban was a 220v volt. Many administrative tasks needed to be done and the two patient groups- the Mamas and the Papas were hankering for their supplies and group entertainment. The big surprise was that the Mamas (uMamas), in our absence, had put together THREE new quilts for future babies born at Mountain High Hospital. The colors were pink, green and purple prints in amazing combinations of color and style fitting for a Zulu prince or princess. Our Durban shopping expedition produced Zulu beads galore to excite any craft craver and yardage of fleece, knits and prints that were limited only by what could be carried the last 4 km in our packs.

The Ubabas (the men’s group) have started to coalesce. Ten to fifteen men rally round and saunter into the chapel to see what Nonhlanhla (my Zulu name meaning Fortune) has to offer for their needs for warmth or comfort or entertainment. The men are rounded up at 930am and show up looking for fleece to make warm hats, socks, or small bags to hold money or cell phones. (Hospital pajamas do not have pockets for personal items). The men are very careful and meticulous about their sewing. They are interested in creating strong, useful items that will serve them well as patients and their discharge. They are also interested in style. 3 Meters of grey, black and red fleece was cut into hats and scarves for the men. The sewing was careful and the designs truly individual as they personalized each item with fringe, pom poms, a jaunty slant or cuff at the bottom. The hospital grounds are filled with men in their snappy attire. After all of the fleece was gone, they experimented with cell phone bags (Almost every African has a cell phone), larger bags for shaving gear, even larger bags to hold personal possessions, patchwork quilts in Zulu fabric and beading to decorate the bags. The men are stoic when favored materials are used up. (The women show more expression and disappointment). The men’s group starts off with the same format as the women’s- a prayer and a song, except that the young chaplain is available to engage the men. Expectations are high for the promised shoe making program which will start soon. Shoe sizes have been taken. Early scouting trips for materials were disappointing but this week the Zulu kingdom headquarters of Nongoma will be foraged to find the necessary soles and materials.

The Umamas (makotis-wives) are creating beautiful bead and clothing designs. The clothes are hand sewn from fabric remnants from a shop that specializes in South African fabrics. The 20 women gather to see who will pick the number one ticket from the hat each day, after the prayer and song. That makoti (wife) or entombi (young girl) selects what sewing or craft project she would like from the assortment of materials available for the day. Of course now the problem is that he occupational therapy program is very successful, and the limitations of materials and transport to this remote community limit this abundant approach. So the trick now is to design a realistic program for each day of a two month cycle, taking into account the abilities of the patients, to make materials stretch over the next year of the grant. The added job is to try to find a way of teaching new skills to every patient that participates and can then take the skills back to the village to teach other persons or market their new skills. Two sewing machines will be purchased in the next few weeks to teach machine sewing skills to the women.

The Ubabas and Umamas have been so prolific in their creations and industry that it is time again to put on a Fashion Show so on May 18 the Second Mountain High Fashion Show will be held to highlight the creativity of the patients at Mountain High Hospital and Positive Living for All. Please Come and Join the Fun! Promise to publish some great pic.

Last Saturday was a Fashion Show of a different bent. The local hospice put on their annual fashion show fundraiser and our attendance and voyeurism embarked on another view of rural South Africa. The Hospice in town is housed in a residential neighborhood with a beautiful backyard. Each supporting group had their own table. We walked in unawares and found an empty table next to a buffet table laden with spice cakes, scones, quiches, and savory tarts. Soon a foursome of funloving gals joined our table and we exchanged stories of life after the midway point. Some stories were parallel as a grandmother has a granddaughter at UCLA and children in Irvine. Some stories were harder to understand as the women discussed their concerns about crime in the new South Africa. At times the conversation seemed very familiar and comforting, especially when discussing the great sweets (candy to Americans, lekker to Afrikaans). We finally felt a bond with a local group albeit only on the basis of sugar highs from the great South African sweet industry. In other discussion we like we were from the moon with no insight as to local culture, custom, current events or their experiences. However, it was fun to be included in a group and to join the ladies at a local restaurant for a drink after the amazing array of fashions were presented. This is a very smartly turned out country and the designers put their best efforts into creating fabulous gowns with layers of silk, tulle, ruffles and beads. I whispered to one of our table mates that I loved the gowns but wondered where all the great parties were happening where one could wear the elaborate concoctions.