ABSTRACT
REMMY ONGALA’S POEM captures the light in which I viewed the women of Zwelibomvu in the very early stages of my research. It was a view that changed a great deal as I interviewed the women, attended their performances and studied their songs. My aim in doing so was to find answers to the question ‘Bahlabelelelani – Why do they sing?’ by examining situations and contexts that trigger their need to compose and perform this genre of oral literature.
