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The recent death of Dr. Thokozile Ginindza has left a void in the hearts and intellectual curiosity of all those who love and are interested in Swazi culture. A student in anthropology of the late Dr. Hilda Kuper at UCLA, Thoko was invariably the cheeriest and yet intellectually honest interpreter of Swazi life that I have known or could imagine. When first assigned as U.S. Ambassador to Swaziland in 1979, I was fortunate to be able to travel to Los Angeles from Washington to consult with Dr. Kuper. She gave me a lot of advice but none was more valuable than urging me to contact Thoko Ginindza as soon as I arrived in Swaziland. Thoko participated frequently in the orientation of newly arriving Peace Corps Volunteers. I always loved to sit in because there was something new and fascinating every time. We were fortunate also to be able to hire her son, Martin Sibongo Dlamini --schooled in the ways of an LA teenager but devoted to his Swazi culture -- to teach siSwati to my wife and me. We always enjoyed including Thoko and Sibongo in our social events. Thoko was a bridge to understanding if there ever was one. And she was just plain good fun. We were delighted to see Thoko and Sibongo again when we visited Swaziland last year for the first time in 10 years. Although her health seemed to be failing, her smiling countenance will always be our dearest memory of her hospitable country. We grieve for Swaziland. Hamba kahle, dear friend, Thoko. Richard Matheron former U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Swaziland
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