Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
ATTENDING an installation ceremony for a traditional leader in the Mutasa Dynasty can be a daunting experience, especially for amateurs, as the customs on display are bound to leave a lasting impression, and are certainly not for the faint-hearted.
During the recent installation of Mr Knowledge Chidawanyika (44) as the new substantive Headman Sanyamandwe under Chief Mutasa, the daughters-in-law and nieces, known as varongo, stole the show with their provocative dances and explicit singing, which left visitors agog in front of elders, chiefs, and Government officials.
Headman Mandeya, one of Chief Mutasa’s right-hand men, said the spectacle is not as scandalous as it seems.
“It is nothing sinister, just culture in its raw, unfiltered form. It is just a raw, unapologetic and loud tradition,” he explained.
The atmosphere was palpably electric, with the varongo’s antics taking centre stage. It was not merely the transfer of authority that captivated the audience, but the dramatic expression of tradition itself. In essence, the sacred ceremony was wrapped in celebratory defiance, flirtatious singing, and the full-bodied assertion of customs passed down through generations.
“This is a rite of passage, and in our culture, the varongo are allowed to sing and dance like this only during such ceremonies.
Outside of this space, if anyone is heard singing such songs, they will be fined. These are sacred obscenities, meant for traditional spaces, not for everyday life,” explained Headman Mandeya.
The ceremony began with the heir apparent, Mr Chidawanyika, being carried on the back of his nephew.
But this was not an ordinary procession. He was covered head-to-toe with a white cloth, as if veiled, from the world until the time was right for his public unveiling.
His nephew’s path was lined with wrapping cloths spread by varongo – a symbolic act of honour, respect, and familial transition.
The journey ended at a reed mat, carefully laid out before Chief Mutasa and other Government dignitaries. That reed mat was sacred ground. It was not just where the soon-to-be headman would be unveiled – it was where the old met the new.
Chief Mutasa said this is where ancestral spirits are believed to gather, and leadership is breathed into bones and blood.
As soon as the nephew gently placed his uncle onto the mat, the varongo burst into song and dancing. But these were not hymns – but obscene, provocative, and unfiltered songs – deliberately so. Too, their dancing was suggestive, lyrics scandalous, and joy untamed. For the amateurs, the sight was jarring.
For the elders, it was beautiful chaos that demanded a price.
In fact, Chief Mutasa had to dig into his own pocket repeatedly that day, offering US$100 notes to calm the storm of varongo energy.
“This is our tradition, a lot of it was done yesterday, but today we are here for the Government’s part of proceedings, the official installation. However, varongo are only playing their part,” said Chief Mutasa as he handed over a starched US$100 note to the women.
With every dollar he handed over, the dancing slowed, but only temporarily. They would flare up again, in laughter and movement, until they were again paid to pipe down.
Indeed, what unfolded was a cultural performance stitched tightly into the fabric of the Mutasa people, a deliberate unravelling of social norms, only to be neatly tucked back in when the business of leadership begins.
When the dancing ceased and the songs died down, the heir was finally unveiled.
Mr Chidawanyika emerged from beneath the white cloth to a loud chorus of ululations.
What followed was the official handing over of his tools of the trade – knobkerries, spears, and other sacred artefacts that symbolise power, justice, and responsibility.
Then came the formal proceedings led by Chief Mutasa and Government officials, grounding the deeply cultural event into its civic significance.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza called on Headman Sanyamandwe to honour his forebears and serve the people with integrity.
“The Government respects traditional leadership’s role in maintaining peace, unity and identity. As Headman Sanyamandwe, you must serve with dignity, fairness and impartiality. You are, not just a leader of people, but also a protector of culture. Help Chief Mutasa in preserving values that define who we are as a people,” said Minister Mugadza.
Chief Mutasa also gave a powerful and pointed speech, part sermon, part fatherly warning, laying out the expectations of the newly installed headman.
“We did our traditional customs and rituals yesterday as the Mutasa family. We did all the necessary stuff of having to give him his traditional knobkerries and tools of the trade. Today is all Government business,” he said, without shying away from the traditional expectations, especially concerning purity and integrity.
“The heir apparent should be accompanied by his wife on the reed mat. If anyone else accompanies him, like a sister as was the case today, she should not have been intimate the night before. The process must remain clean and spiritually sound,” he said.
Turning to Headman Sanyamandwe’s sister, who had stood in for his ill wife, he asked publicly: “Did you sleep with a man last night?”
Her answer was a respectful NO, and brought sighs of relief and a ripple of laughter.
“The person who accompanies the heir must be clean. No witches. No people who tamper with dark arts. Even the headman himself must not be someone who goes around trying to enhance wealth using charms. You will never be buried in Bingaguru if you are dirty,” said.
He did not stop there.
“Being crowned a headman does not mean you can willy-nilly take people’s wives. Do not snatch people’s wives. And remember, passion to lead should always come before the love for money. Do not charge your subjects exorbitant amounts in your court, the fees have already been set aside by the Government,” said Chief Mutasa.
He urged the new headman to avoid shady land deals, especially those conducted through village heads for personal gain.
“Your job is to protect our customs. You must not promote drug and substance abuse in your area. You are now a father to many. Do not let them down,” he said.
For his part, the newly installed Headman Sanyamandwe was visibly humbled. In his brief remarks, he pledged to uphold the dignity of the office.
“I stand before you, not just as Knowledge Chidawanyika, but as Headman Sanyamandwe, a servant of the people, a guardian of our traditions. I will not let you down,” he said.
The ceremony ended with more singing, drumming, and the sharing of traditional food.
The varongo had settled by then, sitting in circles, counting their hard-earned dollars and laughing.
And while the provocative dances were over, their meaning lingered, a reminder that in the Samanyika land, tradition is alive, loud, and demands to be honoured in full.
