Culture and Tradition
PLUMTREE – Traditionalists from across Bulilima district and beyond have converged at the sacred koManyangwa shrine to perform annual rainmaking ceremonies, seeking divine intervention for abundant rains and a bountiful harvest in the coming season.
The ceremony, known as Umtolo in isiNdebele, Mayile in Kalanga, and Mukwerera in chiShona, is a deeply rooted cultural practice held at the onset of the rainy season to appease the spirits of the land.
Located in Tjehanga Village, approximately 30km from Plumtree, the koManyangwa shrine is a revered site believed to hold solutions for many in the community. The ceremony involved three days of rituals, traditional singing, dancing, and the brewing of ritual beer by women and children.
Leader of the Amawosana, Mr. Elias Sibanda, expressed optimism about the season ahead following the completion of the rites.
“We were at Khulu Manyangwa for the past three days where we were doing the rituals for asking the rains as we approach the rainy season,” said Mr. Sibanda.
“During this period, it is taboo to do any work. For the three days, the ceremony was filled with singing, dancing, and drinking traditional beer.”
The belief underpinning the ceremony is that the land owns the people, and if the land is angered, it can result in drought. The ritual, therefore, serves to thank the ancestors and plead for a fruitful season.
This tradition is not unique to Zimbabwe but finds parallels in many indigenous cultures across Africa, Australia, and the Americas.
Traditionalists maintain that when the ceremony is performed correctly, rains often begin to fall during the festivities or shortly thereafter.
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