Mamba Culture

The disciplined and dignified social structure of a Mamba homestead(umuzi) is captivating for visitors who may come witness to it without falling enemy to the flesh eaters. Customs pertaining to food and the brewing of paga, ancestoral worship and places of burial, the dress code for men, women and children, the subservience of the female mate, the role of the traditional healer (inyanga), the importance of a man's cattle, the system of compensating a father for the loss of his daughter in mating (lobola), courtship, witchcraft and superstitions.

The Amakhosi: The traditional head of a Mamba clan is the Inkosi. He is regarded by his people as a father figure - the source of their wealth and well being, the spiritual symbol of their tribe, and the man who determines the fate of his people. However, it is said that one of the Mamba villages left their Inkosi to suffer a terrible death upon the attack of marcher ants.

The Prevailing Sangoma:The traditional female of the Mamba clan who stands at the side of the Inkosi thru all trials and tribulations, be it for spiritual guidance or companionship. She may be his mate, his daughter, granddaughter, sister or other tribe female. Isangomas play a significant role and is assigned very powerful status among the society. She is regarded by her people as a mother figure - a spiritual symbol of their tribe.

The Man: The demeanor of the Mamba male is anything but kind upon the enemy. They are the grim Askari of the jungles. Expressive of a cruelty befitting hell. Vicious, quick, cunning and deceptive are only a few attributes of such males. Most diabolicaly trained Askari who were hellishly fierce protectors of their sacred grounds. It would be asinine to ever believe one of Mamba decent could or would ever be able to survive outside of the jungles, even half bloods. The caliginous depths of the jungle are the Mambas playground, their vice, .... a weapon, in itself... a way of life.

Within the walls of the stockage, few outsiders, save for truly trusted friends, would ever come to see the Mamba male's more relaxed state. He attends tribal meetings, makes all the important decisions and protects all family and property. He is also the hunter and bringer of food for his family. A man who did "women's work" like cooking or cleaning, it was thought of as weak. Some men would rather stay hungry than touch a pot to cook a meal. The only exception is that of the ritual ceremony given when an enemy falls prey to the hands of the flesh eaters. Then it would be the men who prepare the body and it is at most times cooked over a large open spit near the central fire of the village. It is very common that they feast upon raw flesh as well.

The Woman: Traditionally, women(free or slave) did the cooking and childcare. If chosen as ones mate, she is totally subservient to her mate and has full responsibility for the raising of the children, albeit the men take very active rolls raising their children too. Whether she is mated or daughter, she participates in all household activities such as cooking, cleaning.. teaching. She is not a stranger to hard work. However, in the more prosperous villages, the woman sometimes do less as the families tend to have slaves to do most of the work.

Although the female mate is subservient to her mate and the elder men of their immediate family, she is highly respected by her mate and village for her place in the family. The Mamba woman displays great strength when it comes to wisdom and independence just as the plains women, even moreso. She is arrogant to a degree but does well to remain respectful of man. She is, by no means, anything like the women of the cities. She will almost seem fearless and always full of spirit and might. She, too, like the Mamba male, could be cunning, calculating and fierce.

The Tharlarion people did not believe in collaring their women. The spirit and the fight is challenging to them, a challenge they expect, desire and thrive upon. A female can be harshly punished by way of the whip, work or other means when purposefully insolent to her mate or male elders of her family if it is warranted, but her place in the family is always cherished.

The women's weakness: Like the exotic flowers that only grow deep within the Schendi jungles, they do well there, but anywhere else, they would fail to thrive therefore can be said to be dangerously fragile. Another reason they are fiercely protected.

"In Gorean mythology, it is said that there was once a war between men and women and that the women lost, and the the Priest-Kings, not wishing the women to be killed, made them beautiful, but as the price of this gift decreed that they, and their daughters, to the end of time, would be the slaves of men." -Dancer of Gor, page 352

The Boys: They look after the cattle and play at stick fighting which prepares them for when they become of age to train as a warrior. They also learn musical instruments and dances of their choice to participate in village festivities. They help their fathers or older male siblings with chores.

The Girls: They learn household chores including carrying containers of water on their heads, weaving, beading and the tending to the elders and those younger than they. They also work alongside the women in the homes and learn the dances of their village.

"Within the stockade of the Mamba people there was much light and noise. I could hear the sounds of their musical instruments, and the pounding of their drums. Within the stockade, too, we could hear the chanting of the people and the beating of sticks, carried in the hands of dancers." ~ Explorers of Gor

The Mamba Askari(Warriors): These were the entities who lurked high above, obscure with calculating quickness. They gave life to the jungles of the sacred Mamba territory. They lurked.. waited.. watched from the lush, shadowy foliage of the jungle tops. Any moment, raining down in dozens upon unsuspecting intruders. Intruders whose remains might be found in the stockade refuse dump after a ritual ceremony of cannabalistic feast. Beware upon the grounds you wander, once the Askari are upon you, there may be no return. If one is unfortunate to come face to face one, such a grim visage would be seen. Rib cages hang ornamental over there torso like some grisly shield, tribal markings of ebony swirl in contrast to bone powder that artisans their visage in some macabre tradition.

Furs, Skins & Shields: The men wear "skins" that hang from their waists, and the kind of skin indicates the social status. For example, only the royal family and chiefs can wear larl skins. The Mamba warriors wear the tufts of bosks' tails around their upper arms and knee joints, supposedly to make them look bigger and more frightening. They also carry leather shields, which tell how experienced a warrior is by how much white is on them. Another interesting fact about their shields are the tufts of fur. When it lays to the bottom, they hunt animal. When it lays to the top, they hunt the flesh of human.

Stick Fighting: The military influence of the Mamba regime is reflected in demonstrations of stick fighting (umshiza), with which the male teenagers and men settle their personal differences in a public duel.

Cattle: There is an inner area if the stockades in which the cattle are traditionally kept. Cattle are very important to the Mambas, and a large herd is a sign of wealth, status, and power. Not only are cattle important for milk and meat, but also for paying the "lobola" or dowry for a mate, and as a sacrifice to the spirits of angry ancestors. Without cattle, a man cannot feed himself and his family, get mated, or appease angry spirits!

Eye contact: is mostly avoided of strangers, as it is thought to be provocative.

Walking: Female mates always walk behind their mates. Female children behind male children.

Meals/Food: They eat food grown in and above the ground, slaughtered bosk, kills of wildlife brought by the hunters and most importantly, they eat human flesh, as they are the cannibals of Gor. First the men are served, then the women followed by the boys and lastly the girls. The Mamba people some times eat from a common dish. Depending on the type of meal to be consumed, some people still prefer to eat by hand rather than use spoons. The family would sit on grass mats together, eating with their hands from a common bowl at times.

Cooking: In Mamba culture, general cooking is the domain of women, free or enslaved. The only exception is that of the ritual ceremony given when an enemy falls prey to the hands of the flesh eaters. Then it would be the men who prepare the body and it is at most times cooked over a large open spit near the central fire of the village. It is not uncommon that they feast upon raw flesh as well.Hence the reason for sharpened teeth.

Giving: It is custom at most times that a Mamba always pass an item or artifact to you using their right hand only. The palm of the left hand will be under the right forearm. This custom is significant, and serves to assure you that there are no hidden weapons and you have nothing to fear from them. This custom can also prove to be very misleading to outside visitors who may end up as the evenings meal.

Family & Mating: Family was extremely important to the Mamba. He choses the one who will be his mate carefully. It is common that this will be the woman he lives his life out with. The woman who will give him a son. Sometimes males will seek the help of the a village Sangoma to help him choose a mate who is seen to be fertile and able to give him a son. Therefor, the female mate is chosen mostly for her fertility, and also for her dowry and beauty.

If the woman he mates only bore him daughters or is found to be barren or unable to give him a son to carry his blood name forth to the next generation, she is looked upon as a lesser woman and if the male chooses such, she can lose her status as his mate and he may take a new mate who is believed able to give him a son. The continuing of his name is very important. The Mamba people believe that if a man dies without a son the history of the family will vanish because the daughters will get mated and leave the family. The implication is that if you have girls only, when you die you will no history behind.

When a man chooses the one who will be his mate, he must pay the woman's father with cattle. This is to compensate the father for the loss of his daughter. Should the mating not work, which is rare, the father must return some or all of the cattle. The female changes clothes often on her joining day, to show her beauty off in a variety of ways. When joining her mate, he would slaughter a bosk for her and she would put her dowry money within it. She would also give blankets as gifts to his entire family. In return, he pays the "bride price", traditionally 11 bosks.

When a young man proposes love from a woman, she gives him a gift of betrothal beads as an indication of her acceptance of him. This acceptance is usually followed by lobolo (bride price) by which the young man pays eleven bosks to the woman’s family. See Beads for further information..

Mating Ceremony: The Mamba joining ceremony takes many shapes and forms. Usually the 'bride'(for lack of better word) changes more than three times on her mating day, showing off to her 'in-laws' how beautiful she is in different colors. The ceremony takes place at the temple, and during this time the 'bride' is dressed in white. After temple the ceremony moves to the home of the 'groom'. The 'bride' changes into traditional outfit. During the traditional joining the parties from the 'bride' and the 'groom’s' side compete through dance and songs if desired.

During this ceremony the family of the 'groom' slaughters a bosk to show that they accept the 'bride' in their home. The 'bride' puts coins inside the stomach of the bosk while the guest looks on. This is a sign that she is now part of the family. The joining ceremony ends with the 'bride' giving gifts in the form of blankets to her new family, including the extended family. This tradition is called ukwaba. Even the long-deceased family members receive gifts and are represented by the living ones. The spectators ululate, sing, and dance for the family.

Beads: Beads are the pride of the Mamba nation. Mamba beadwork encompasses a symbolic language that may include reprimands and warnings, messages of love, and encouragement. Different beads carry symbolic meanings that may be used during courtship.

Bead Colors & Meanings
Color Positive Negative
Black Mating, Regeneration Sorrow, Despair, Death
Blue Fidelity, Request Ill Feeling, Hostility
Yellow Wealth, Fertility Thirst, Badness, Withering away
Green Contentment, Domestic Bliss Illness, Discord
Pink High birth or Rank, An Oath, Promise Poverty, Laziness
Red Physical Love, Strong Emotion Anger, Heartache,Impatience
White Spiritual love, purity, virginity

One of the most fascinating manifestations of this traditional craft is its unique language. Every colour has a different meaning and a Mamba women can weave a message of love, grief, jealousy, poverty or uncertainty into her patterned creation. Young Mamba girls, in particular, use the vocabulary of the beads to send sweet (or bitter) thoughts to their loved ones.

The colors and patterns of the beads worn by both mated and unmated women tell a lot, such as if the woman is of mating age, if she is intended, pregnant, or grieving.

Dancing & Singing: Dancing and singing is very much a part of the lifestyle of the Mamba people, and each dance formation or movement symbolizes an event or happening within the clan. There is the rhythmical dance of the small shield, the fiery motivation body movements of the hunting dance, the symbolizing of the tidal ebb and flow in the Umbhekuzo, the snakelike motion of the umchwayo and the challenging war dance with traditional shield and spear.

Slaves:

Slaves in the Mamba village are quite different than those you find outside the stockades. They are not as common or near as essential as those of the cites because the free people of the village are hard workers and do most of their own work. The slaves are taught the culture of the Mamba people and they work hard at their owners sides. They are loyal and devoted just as any slave might be and they are held to a much more strict regimen, knowing full well their fate at the spit if they fall out of favor of their owner.

Female slaves: are kept naked save for a long narrow skirt of simple brown and their breasts are sometimes painted with intricate designs. Their nipples and ears are also pierced once they have appeased the ancestors in the eyes of the Sangoma. Some owners even choose to have their slaves genitalia pierced. The female slave works hard and her place is in the home with the women and to help in the caring for the children. They also work in the fields, helping to cultivate and caring for the crops.

Male slaves: are kept naked save for either a simple loin cloth or light leathers made within the village. It depends on his status with his owner(s). He, too, will have his nipples pierced when seen worthy of such. The males work alongside the males of the village in all things save for village meetings. He, too, is called upon by the women of his village to assist in chores when he is available. They also work in the fields, helping to cultivate and caring for the crops.

"This is perhaps because many male silk slaves are chosen to be male silk slaves not because they are weak or like women, but because they are not; it is only that they are men, and often true men, who must serve women, totally, in the same fashion that a slave female is expected to serve a free master.

To be sure, it is also true, and should be admitted in all honesty, that many male silk slaves are rather feminine; some women prefer this type, perhaps because they fear true men; from such a silk slave they need not fear that they may suddenly be turned upon, and tied, and taught to be women. Most women, however, after a time, find this type of silk slave a banality and a bore; charm and wit can be entertaining, but, in time, if not conjouined with intellect and true masculine power, they are likely to wear thin. " -- Savages of Gor

The piercing of slaves is something to take pride in. As one only receives such gifts when they have proven to be completely obedient and worthy. The piercings may be removed just as easily as they are given. No slave is given title as red silk or white silk. They are there for one purpose alone, to be of service, be it for work or pleasure.

If a female is caught bedding with a kajiru that is not owned by herself or her mate(if any), she falls to the collar of the kajiru's owner.

If slaves are caught bedding one another without permission granted from their owner, they can expect to be whipped harshly and possibly even killed.

"Any free woman who couches with another's slave or readies for such, becomes , by law, herself a slave and the property of said slaves owner. " - Magicians of Gor

Superstitions:

Tokoloshe: The Tokoloshe is believed to be a very small and evil individual. The Mamba people will raise their beds from the floor using bricks/stones so that the Tokoloshe cannot reach them. At night a knock on the door will not be answered for fear that it is the Tokoloshe.

"Goreans are extremely sensitive about names, and who may speak them. Indeed, particularly those of low caste, even have use names, concealing their true names, lest they be discovered by enemies and used to conjure spells against them." - Assassins, page 12
Witchcraft: The Mamba people believe that everything happens for a reason and bad happenings are caused by witches. Exposed witches will be put to death as well as their family. The chief will 'inherit' the belongings of the family.

Traditional Healing:

The Inyanga:The Inyanga is often mistakingly called the witchdoctor. He is in fact the tribe's doctor and treats physical disease. The majority of the Mamba people will still travel as far as it is necessary to obtain remedies from an Inyanga.

The Sangoma (witch doctor):

The Sangoma plays a respected and meaningful role in the life of a Mamba community by using roots, herbs, bark, snake skins and dried animal parts to reveal the past, predict the future and even sometimes is believed to cure ailments. She talks with the spirits of the tribe's ancestors and looks for guidance. Mamba people believe in ancestors and in traditional healing. They believe that the isangoma has supernatural powers of communicating with the ancestral spirits on their behalf. Isangomas play a significant role among the Mamba nation and are assigned very powerful status among the society.

Training to become a Sangoma generally takes five to seven years, although when one is born to a Sangoma the time may be half as much. Usually it is women who take up this profession, however, there are and have been some powerful male Isangomas.

Isangomas predict the present and the future of the people who come to seek help from them. They throw bones to determine the future and to find stolen things at times. Isangomas work alone or sometimes in conjunction with medicine men (inyanga).

Miscellaneous information:

Inside the homes you'll sometimes find the women weaving baskets and making clay pots and traditional paga, and men making their shields. Slaves very seldom remain in doors unless summoned for something. Inside the huts, while working, the women sit on the left, the men on the right, and the spirits of the ancestors have their own space opposite the door. The ancestors are thought to live in the spiritual world of the one God, unkulunkulu (the greatest of the great), but have a second home with their families.

Historians have traced the beginnings of the Mamba nation. They have a rich and bloody history and have a tradition of being great warriors. Many battles were fought, many lives lost, but the Mamba nation has survived.
Art works & other creations:

* Carvings - Hand-carved wooden sculptures and carvings with more traditional themes, Fine items made from exotic tem wood, Large and life size tem wood statues, Soapstone Stone carvings each individually hand carved.
* Beaded Jewelry - All jewelry is completely hand made, authentic, and completely Mamba in origin and design. This jewelry will be noticed by everyone, will make tremendous conversation pieces.
* Musical Instruments - Exotic Mamba Musical instruments not easily found outside the village - including a selection of Drums, hollowed and solid sticks, bone and wood flutes and Tambourines.
* Weaving - Wicker Baskets, blankets and other accessories.
* Leather Art - All made from genuine bosk leather - featuring animals, leaders and ancestral spirits.
* Clay & Steel Pots - The Mambas create inticately detailed clay pots, pitchers and other containers. They as well hammer out pots of steel when able to gain the steel needed from outsiders.