The ManicaPost
Susan Nyamangodo Post Correspondent
GOVERNMENT has established a culture village at the Mapembe Nature Reserve — a rendezvous revered as medium of cultural reflection for the Marange people — in a bid to preserve its history for the next generation and boost tourism.
Mapembe is a mountain on the south-westerly direction and 20km off the Mutare-Harare Road past Odzi siding and along the Marange road.
The nature reserve falls partly in Nyagundi and Chikundu old resettlement areas in Ward 34 of Mutare Rural District Council.
Mt Mapembe’s estimated terrain elevation above sea level is 1 129 metres.
The Marange people of the Shava totem go to Mt Mapembe in search of the divine power.
The mountain is sacred, and one has to strictly observe instructions from spirit medium, lest misfortune befall them within its vicinity.
The youth ministry’s arts and culture officer for Manicaland, Trust Madzivire, said:
“A culture village is important because it shows the value of culture to our children. Most children after independence have never been to the rural areas, so the culture centre shows children how rural areas look and feel. We want to protect the environment as well as preserve our heritage as the people of Zimbabwe. The centre will have many projects including nutritional gardens, fishery, piggery, fruit trees and poultry”.
“The creation of the culture village will enhance the livelihoods of the people in Zimbabwe and also cultivate the spirit of preserving the country’s heritage and valuing the country’s heritage. A culture village will also bring foreign currency into the country, thereby boosting the country’s economy,” he said.
Madzivire also added that the village will create employment, thereby reducing the crime in the area.
“The Mapembe community will also benefit from this initiative as it will create employment for the youths. Creation of employment will then mean that everyone will be able to send their children to school. Culture centres are a prime way of bringing communities together in learning, which makes it more enjoyable and often times, even more helpful,” he said.
He said a room will be created for the preservation of produces like millet, pumpkin and sorghum, among others.
A culture village is an area that is set aside to portray the lifestyles, activities and artifacts of a particular culture, usually in the format of a living museum.
Mapembe has the greatest influence concerning the Marange chieftainship, which is mainly centralised in the influence of the leadership of women chiefs (madziashe).
About 11 Marange chiefs have been interred at Mapembe in their hierarchical order and the sacred monument is also a central point where traditional events and rituals such as mukwerera (rain-making beer) and protection from evil spirits are performed.
The mountain served as the residence of Chief Marange and his people before colonialism.
Modern gadgets like cellphones, wristwatches and cameras, among others, are not allowed in the mountain — the place of ancestors and source of divine power.
On the mountain foot is a perennial stream called Usuka — along which is an oasis or natural well (chitubu) on which surrounding communities draw water during dry periods.
At the mountain top are some caves and rock shelters where rain-making ceremonies are held annually.
Beer pots are put in the caves, and the brewing is done by elderly women, who are deemed clean, having ceased to be sexually active and not breastfeeding.
Beer is made of rain water, not water drawn from rivers or the adjacent dam.
At the entrance of the caves is a lower and upper grinding stones (guyo nehuyo).
There is also a broken clay pot on the entrance which is used by elders to place some snuff (bute) when they enter the rock shelter.
A sheep is slaughtered for feasting during the rain-making ceremony.
The sheep should not be slit by a knife, but it is beaten up and stepped upon till it dies.
There are two different entrances to the site; with one is for men to the east and another for women to the west.
The muzinda area
The site is a large rock shelter, with a semi circular wall that closes the western part of the boulder. There is a grain bin closer to the main altar or stone platform.
The stone platform has three different circular stands where clay pots with beer for the chiefs are placed. The three clay pots serve different purposes and have different titles — the first, which is on the lower stand is called mashamwari, meaning it is for the friends of the Marange clan.
The second clay pot is for the elders — and serves the purpose of dedicating or kupira madzibaba.
The third, and big clay curved pot, which is placed on the highest point is called tendeneko and is a preserve for the ancestors.
There are also four complete clay pots for beer within the site.
There is also a reed grain basket or bin on the east of the site close to the entrance point that links to the tunnel which in turn connects the site to other places where cultural ceremonies are held.
The reed grain basket is made from the barks of the muruka, a weed species that spreads for nearly two metres, and when harvested is placed in water before being weaved together.
The machinda area
The place for aides to the chief is situated to the north-west of the main muzinda. There is a conical wall platform at the entrance, dubbed pachara for men or machinda who guard the main site. The site also serves for the purpose of resting and entertainment.
There is a tree log in the walling of the mususu tree. It is suggested that the log was for stabilising the wall. However, it is burnt on its end.
Circular wall overlooking the homesteads
There is a lower grinding stone and pot shreds.
The site was a defensive spot during the war as the outlining areas is a rock outcrop and slippery. This was influential during the madzviti raids.
There is also rock art near Mapembe Dam which depicts various animals that used to roam the area and hunted by past generations.
