27/02/2026
UMQHELE WOTHANDO
CHAPTER : 01
'eNTABENI VILLAGE'
You often hear abantu Egoli speak of this village, mostly because some of them were born in the very same village. They don't regard it as a village with commoners and royal families, they refer to it as a home, a home filled with the warm scent of warm bread and the sweet sounds of African birds envelop you.
They'd tell you that they didn't stay in normal houses, they stayed in rondavels–rondavels that were built by the royal family. Oh to never forget children that would run around the village... playing, giggling and running around. Their bare feet kicking up the dust as they chase each other around the ancient acacia tree.
The villagers of eNtabeni live in harmony with nature. They tend to their gardens, coaxing forth vibrant vegetables and fruits from the fertile soil. In eNtabeni, time stands still. The world slows down and the beauty of simplicity is cherished. This is a village where tradition and nature entwine, where the heart finds peace.
A village where rain only come twice a year, where the royal family is praised like God. The royal palace being their only source of water, maidens kneeling infront of the Queen to beg them to marry her sons. Men begging the King for jobs, whether it is the job of being a royal guard or a driver.
eNtabeni is not just a village, it's something greater. The hills roll gently, like soft waves on a calm sea—covered in a lush blanket of green grass and wildflowers. By the river, sits three maidens—gathering water to wash their clothes.
“Did you hear? the Queen announced that her youngest son is getting married, he will be choosing a wife this Saturday! all he wants is a maiden!” The girl with the thick body says in excitement.
It's every maiden's dream to get married to one of the King's sons, well except for the eldest one—Langalethu Ngubane, he chose a wife 5 years ago.
“So what?—do you want to go there and embarrass yourself because you are not a maiden and the Queen will spot you from afar? you know that you will get punished for lying Hlubi.” A tall, petite girl says—keeping her attention on the clothes she's washing.
“Hlubi is not afraid of anything, don't you know that Zama?—she might go there and pose as a maiden. I'm just wondering why they are not letting the middle son get married first. He should be the one looking for a wife, not the youngest one.” Nala says, the reason behind the youngest son getting married before the middle son hasn't been disclosed yet.
Knowing the royal family, they will keep the secret with them until their deaths.
“Well, that is none of our business. All I know is that I will be going to the reed dance. My prince will choose me, he will choose me and take me with him to the royal palace.” Zama says, daydreaming about the day she finally gets married to the prince of the Ngubane Palace.
“The sun is setting, we should get home. I need to cook dinner for my family.” Nala says, throwing the clothes in the small basin. She gets up and the rest follow.
“Oh eNtabeni is so beautiful! Look at the hills, they look so peaceful.” Zama says, they raise their heads to glance at the hills surrounding the village.
“Peaceful like they aren't haunted.” Hlubi's tongue slips and the two girls glare at her—with frowns on their faces.
“What? it's not the first time you're hearing about this, our grandfathers and grandmothers know about this mystery that lies with those hills! that is why I never dared to get ontop of them. I will not be approached by a ghost.” Hlubi says starting to walk ahead, Zama and Nala shake their heads and follow her.
The sounds of their bare feet tapping on the wooden sticks on the ground, the sounds of their giggles surrounding the space between them.
“Oh, Nosipho is already preparing supper. She will never forgive me for being late.” Nala says, glancing at her sister who's entering their smallest rondavel that's designed to be a small kitchen.
“Your sister is very understanding, she'll never be upset with you. Let me go, bye.” Hlubi says walking off in the opposite direction while Zama walks in between of the bushes that lead to her home.
Nala walks through the gate with the basin in her arms, she enters the main 4 room house and places the basin by the entrance.
“Nosipho has already prepared supper.” Her mother, emerges from the sitting area. Nala clears her throat.
“We lost track of time mama wami, I apologize. I will be the one to dish up today.” She says, searching for her mother's smile.
“You will also wash the dishes.” Her mother says before walking off outside, Nala sighs and walks outside as well. Her feet lead her to the small rondavel—the one Nosipho just entered.
She stands by the door, watching her sister work her way around the kitchen—singing beautifully with her natural hair hovering over her. She has watched Nosipho become a second mother in all these years, she has never abandoned her household duties.
“What's wrong with you?” Nosipho asks her, turning back. Nala smiles, her eyes catching the different colors of her eyes.
“I missed you.” She says approaching Nosipho. She pulls her in for a hug, they have a sisterly bond—one that can never be broken by anything and anyone.
“Stop it, you're suffocating me.” Nosipho says, Nala lets go of her. She never misses the chance to stare at her, the different colors of her eyes always get her—their mother or grandmother has never mentioned anything about a family member having different eye colors.
Why does Nosipho have different eye colors?—it's her first time seeing a human being with a light blue eye. It doesn't freak her out actually, she actually thinks it makes her unique and beautiful.
“You can stop staring at me.” Nosipho says, Nala laughs and throws herself on the chair besides the table.
“I'm dishing up today, I lost track of time at the river. I would have came ealier.” Nala says, grabbing an apple from the fruit basket.
“It's okay, I don't really mind. I don't have anything to do all day, I might as well cook when the time has come.” Nosipho says, Nala nods.
“Are you going to the reed dance?—the prince is choosing a wife.” Nala says, Nosipho heaves a sigh and shakes her head.
“I'm not going, you can go.” She says, Nala rolls her eyes.
“You're the first maiden who's never been interested in the royal affairs. Why are you like this?—you're so beautiful Nosipho, I'm sure the prince would choose you if he saw you.” Nala says earning a frown from Nosipho.
“I am not going there Nala. You can go and maybe, you'll get chosen. I just don't want to associate myself with the royal family, I've heard dark stories about them.” She says, Nala laughs.
“This is a village, a village that is built upon our ancestors graves. What did you expect? hearing dark stories is not a shock. We are used to hearing these.” Nala says, speaking of it like it's something small.
“Get the plates, the food is ready. Call Hlathi and Bavumile, grandmother will eat from her bedroom today, mother said she'll eat tomorrow morning.. she is working tonight.” Nosipho says, placing the three foot pot on the table, Nala gets up and takes the enamel plates out of the cupboard. Hlathi and Bavumile are their younger siblings.
“We're having pap and spinach today.” Nosipho says, Nala sighs. Isn't this what they had yesterday?
“Were there no potatoes or cabbage? I'm tired of eating this for the third time in a row.” She says, Nosipho glances at her. She thought she had taught her to appreciate each and everything she is presented with.
“We are not the royal family Nala, we aren't even a middle class family. We are living in poverty okay? maybe you should go and ask the royal family why this month's grocery hasn't been delivered.” She says, snapping a bit. Nala can be so difficult to deal with sometimes.
“I'm sorry.” Nala says, she has never once tried to make Nosipho mad. She always respects her sister with every inch in her, she thinks without her sister—there's no life.
“You're turning 23 tomorrow.” Nala says with a smile on her face, Nosipho completely forgot. She didn't even mean to remember that it's her birthday, she never celebrates it.
“Mhh.” She says, reaching out for another pot. She feels a sharp in her heart when she quickly places the pot back down. Nala stands up and picks the pot up for her.
“You should be careful.” She says, if they had money to go to the most expensive doctors in the world then they would definitely go. It's just unfortunate that the royal family would never help commoners in aspects like these. Till this day, they don't understand what makes Nosipho's heart ache.
'NGUBANE PALACE'
King Ngubane steps out of the master bedroom, holding onto his leopard print shield and a walking stick. He's tall, you would shake at his presence—every member of the Ngubane family, males to be precise are all tall. That's how you would spot them among a crowd, they stand out.
He walks down the stairs, his presence being felt with every step down the staircase. He lays his eyes on the dining table, this is the family he built for himself—a family that vowed to protect from all evil. He looks around, he sees his sons and wives here. Where is his middle son?—Langalibalele?
“He's outside.” Queen Thandaza Ngubane says, with a smile on her face. King Ngubane takes his seat and clears his throat. Eyes falling on his youngest son, Langalami.
“The wife you choose should be a suitable daughter inlaw for the Ngubane family, she should have the qualities of a princess. We don't want a girl that has already been touched Langalami.” He says, his voice deep and scary.
“Noted, father.” Langalami says, he focuses on his eldest brother—Langalethu who's looking straight at him. Many people would probably shake at the sight of seeing King Ngubane's sons. They look alike, they're tall and muscular like their father—we don't want to say they're handsome but they are.
“What is it?” Langalami asks Langalethu who frowns at him, he doesn't dare to speak to his elder brother like that—what happened to him today?
“Sorry.” He apologizes to his elder brother, the maids walk into the dining room pushing their dinners on walkers.
“Good evening royal family.” The first maid says, bowing her head and reaching out for the bowls that have the food inside.
“Langalibalele should be here right now, we don't eat dinner without someone missing. Langalethu, go look for your brother and tell him to come here right now.” King Ngubane says, Langalethu stands up without hesitation.
They've never dared to say no to their father, he's a man with a commanding spirit—one look from him and you're dead. He walks outside with his tall self.
“Langa..” He calls out for him, walking around the palace searching for him. He stops on his tracks and sighs in relief when he spots his brother standing at the corner of the house smoking.
“That's not good for your lungs.” He says standing besides Langalibalele who doesn't even dare to spare him a glance.
“Kusho bani?—(who said so?)” He asks him, Langalethu releases a low chuckle.
“Come inside, it's time for dinner.” He says, Langalibalele does not fail to roll his eyes—he has heard that only women roll their eyes but he seems to have that habit.
“My heart's aching bhuti, what do I do?—it hurts in my chest.” He says, Langalethu spares his brother a glance.
“Let's go inside, it's probably the air around you.” He says, pulling his brother's hand as they walk off. They're almost the same height, tall as hell!
They walk inside, take their seats at the table. King Ngubane glances at Langalibalele—he knows he should apologize whenever he has come late for dinner, breakfast or lunch. What is it with him today?
“Langalibalele..” He calls him out, Langalibalele raises his head to meet his father's terrifying gaze.
“I apologize for being late.” He says, a roll of eyes comes from King Ngubane's second wife. Queen Nelisiwe Ngubane, she has never dared to like his sons, she always wanted to be the one to bear males for him—not Thandaza.
“Langalibalele and I will go to Joburg tomorrow, the construction site is ongoing—we need to monitor the workers.” Langalethu says, earning a frown from King Ngubane.
“You both aren't going anywhere, we are preparing for the ceremony for your brother. You should be here, the ancestors will not be pleased if you are not here.” King Ngubane says, Langalethu's wife, Olwethu smiles.
“Yes, my dear. You don't have to go at such a time, Langalami needs your support.” She says, Langalethu shoots a death stare at her and she clears his throat—who does she think she is to interfere in matters like this?
The maids serve everyone their preferred meals, this is a royal palace—of course the table is going to be filled with every kind of food there ever is.
“It might rain on the day, Langalami getting married will fill joy in this village, we will await grandkids too.” Queen Thandaza Ngubane says, excitement not being missed in her voice.
“Grandsons..” King Ngubane says, he's a man that wants to keep the generational traditions alive—he had four sons before he had 4 daughters, in total—he has 8 children, of which he cherishes only 4. Langalethu, Langalibalele, Langalami and his late son, Langalakhe.
“Langalibalele, you aren't eating, what is the problem my son?” Queen Thandaza asks her son who's chest is tightened. He shakes his head, he's sweating.
“It's just that I'm feeling this heartache, it doesn't go away for a few minutes.” He says, Thandaza and King Ngubane glance at each other—could it be..
eNtabeni village lives in the heart of people who thought they would forget about it. You can be miles away but you can never forget eNtabeni.
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