PICTURE: Some participants during a Tsonga initiation graduation ceremony called nghoma at Mahenye in Chipinge South
AS winter arrives, Tsonga communities (also known as Shangaan) brace themselves for one of their unique cultural aspects, the initiation ceremony known as nghoma for males and khomba for females. The initiation ceremony symbolises a child’s qualification into adulthood.
Tsonga people are spread in south Mozambique in Gaza province, north and eastern South Africa in Limpopo and Mpumalanga province respectively. Locally they're found in south eastern parts of Zimbabwe in Manicaland and Masvingo provinces.
In Zimbabwe the Tsonga fall under six chiefs. In Chiredzi they are under chief Tshovani, chief Sengwe and chief Gudo. In Chipinge they're under chief Mahenye as those of Zaka are under chief Benzi and those of Mwenezi are under chief Chitanga.
Those who participate in the Tsonga initiation ceremony temporarily forget about the comfort of homes and spent a month in the bush. For that month, the public isn't allowed near or at the ritual camp. Intruding is a punishable offence under the traditional law.
Both males and females undergo tutorial in how they can prepare them for adulthood, how to become responsible fathers and mothers and how to maintain their culture. It is during this initiation ceremony that another unique Tsonga culture, circumcision takes place for men. Uncircumcised males undergo the healthy process and winter conditions aid them to get healed before they graduate.
Both nghoma and khomba graduation ceremonies are colourful events. The ceremonies are attended by traditional leaders who include the chiefs, headmen and village heads. Males present themselves wearing all white clothes and possessing decorated sticks. Females would put on multi-coloured necklaces and head covers that are decorated with multi pins.
After presenting themselves to the traditional leaders, the graduates then make a procession in which relatives, friends and the community applaud. To show respect for a male graduate, a woman is expected to kneel down whenever she meets a graduate. She would remain composed like that till the male passes. Also, if a man comes across or passes by where a khomba graduate, he is expected to give a token (even money) to the graduate in order to show his respect.
According to Centre for Cultural Development Initiatives (CCDI), a development trust for communities around the Great Limpopo Trans-frontier Park in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South africa, more than 80 percent of Tsonga people are graduates of the nghoma and khomba initiation ceremonies. The Tsongas are very proud of this unique part of their culture and are eager to pass on the tradition to the future generation.
It is the male procession that CCDI has transformed into a tourism package for Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park tourism. For the first time in history, Tsonga initiation ceremony shall be showcased at the Great Limpopo Cultural Trade Fair which shall take place from July 28-31 this year at Mhlanguleni Business Centre about 110km south of Chiredzi town.
According the trade fair director Mr Hebert Hasani Phikela, delegates shall have a chance to experience nghoma graduation ceremony. Said Mr Phikela: “On the first day of the trade fair, delegates shall be treated with nghoma graduates’ street procession. This shall be the opening event of the fair. Our chiefs have approved the extravagance and we hope to keep it as a key feature of all prospective Great Limpopo Cultural Trade Fair.” Mr Phikela revealed that a Tsonga Cultural Village is now complete at Mhlanguleni and this is where the Tsonga chiefs are expected to hold their ceremony. “Our chiefs work in unison. They shall lead the procession. For the forthcoming editions of Great Limpopo Cultural Trade Fair we are planning to bring in chiefs from Mozambique and South Africa. Tsonga initiation ceremony is a regional tourism package,” concluded Phikela.