Chronicle Editor
Father Innocent Makawule Ndlovu
The great matriarch of the Makawule clan, Gogo Sinana Josephine Makawule answered the call to join midzimu yakaMakawule after having lived a full and gratifying life, nurturing generations.
Born in 1920, Gogo Makawule died at the age of 104 at St Joseph Mission, Hlababomvu Village in Ward 9, Chief Bidi, Matobo District on June 21.
Gogo Makawule loved to see people happy and joyful. For that reason, she was an expert in brewing traditional beer to cheer up the community and very artistic in the production of seme/ingcebethu (sisal plate).
In my earlier interview with the late Gogo Makawule, she had attributed her longevity, first and foremost, to divine grace and the watchful eye of midzimu yakaMakawule. Cultural and religious values of bunhu/ubuntu, respect, faith and hope meant a lot to her. Secondly, to the correct lifestyle that encompasses the consumption of traditional foods and hard work especially in field work.
The late Gogo Makawule attended school at Guardian Angel Catholic Primary School under St Joseph Catholic Mission before she was given in marriage to Thomas Njini Ndlovu of the Damara Madambane tribe originally from South West Africa and begot Tjakupa, Gibson, Michael, Maxwell, Margaret and Moses Ndlovu of Njini.
Gogo Makawule was blessed with six children, 25 grandchildren, 47 great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild.
Her father, Nusani Makawule Ndlovu, a descendant of the Bayela Royal Clan was born to Mapini (Chief Kutshe) and his wife Nswene Tjimba Ncube (BaBhangwa) of the Mtjakula family.
The other children of BaBhangwa and Mapini Makawule were Zikhali, Ntonongwa-busukwa-kaKutshe (Baka Magudu ) whose first born child was Stanley Magudu in 1917 and Banyangangwa Makawule Ndlovu.
The eldest child of Nusani Makawule and his first wife Ngalilo Ndebele, a sister to Mpohole Ndebele was Short Makawule born around 1912.
Other children of Nusani and Ngalilo were Lamwiwa-hhamu, Dzingwana, Fanyana, Ntombana, Mthetho (TaFanelo) and Haliwa Makawule Ndlovu. Nusani Makawule’s children with his second wife Bagululu (MaMoyo) were Simeleni, Lucas, Gokiwo, Mlivi, Ginesi (Agnes), Phuthile, Fredy and Kwete Makawule.
Nusani was commonly known as TaShort. Assuming that Nusani Makawule was about 25 years old when he married Ngalilo Ndebele, then he must have been born around 1889/90. Then came Tana born around 1915, Mpuhe born in 1917 and Sinana Josephine born in 1920.
We want to thank our dear Aunt Sinana Josephine Makawule Ndlovu and give her a befitting send-off through her family praises: eHhowu, eMakawule, ZwiNjanja, Zwitekedzana, BoMhihha, Banadoko lisingagagwe ndenhuzi, Banonya kubinduka beti masikati kuna nhuzi njii! Banantundo unobhika bhobola wasala ukadzima moto!
Banongula ndokaka beti muvula kunanyungila! Banotanha nti ndetiko zebe dzaka kwakwatila. Botombo tjisingapotelegwe, ukatjipoteleka tjoba mimvumbi. Babvumbi bevula, Bakati vula ngayine ikana! Mibvumbi yakaMakawule.
Balunji ngusingapfume ngubo gunosendelela nopfuma pasi. Bakati hango ngayipalale ikapalala! Bakati ngayigadzikane ikagadzikana. Tili Bayela.
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