Online Reporter
Obey Musiwa-Online Reporter
Traditional practices play a critical role in advancing national development strategy goals by fostering and reinforcing a sense of national identity.
This was said by the Sun that Never Set chairperson and cultural custodian, Mr Mukanganiki Mupandasekwa, during a mass cultural ceremony held recently at Headman Chitsa’s homestead under Chief Tsovani in Chiredzi.
The cultural ceremony welcomed 1 435 initiates from a month-long initiation rite of passage at Bandai mountain along the Save River.
The event, attended by community elders, Government representatives and cultural custodians, underscored the role of initiation rites in uniting ethnic groups such as the Lemba, Changani, Chawa and Venda.
“The return of 1 435 initiates shows that people are united in doing one thing, one goal that forms the basis of identity in society,” he said. “This then affirms the history and strengthens peace and stability in societies.”
Mr Mupandasekwa said extended his compliments to President Mnangagwa for launching Culture Day at Rusununguko Secondary School.
“It inspired the community to celebrate and practice their culture in their own unique way,” he said. “The coming in of modern shortcuts threatens our culture and this limits the preservation of our heritage.”
Cultural leader, Mr Maina Seremani, said the practice of initiation had been in their tradition since his ancestors migrated from Sena in Yemen.
“The community responded positively to the President’s teachings and practised their culture in the way of their forefathers,” he said.
“During our stay in the forest, the initiates lived in harmony with lions, elephants, and hyenas, a sign, I believe, of nature’s respect for our cultural practices.”
Chief Tsovani (Felix Mundau) said his people had been undergoing initiation since 1956, but warned that modern shortcuts risked eroding ancestral practices.
“Seremani went with 1 435 initiates and returned with all the initiates, showing that we can do it alone without external assistance. Our tradition is the one thing that foreigners recognise us with,” he said.
