The Sunday Mail
Spirit mediums, chiefs and traditional healers attend the ceremony to thank ancestors hosted by Chief Magonde last week
Sekuru Friday Chisanyu
CHIEFS, as the custodians of our culture, are recognised and given due respect by traditional and faith healers in all aspects including at cultural ceremonies.
On July 18, the Zimbabwe National Practitioners Association attended a ceremony hosted by Chief Magonde.
The ceremony was hosted to thank the ancestors for helping Chief Magonde to acquire back the farm in Lions Den which carries the history of their ancestors. The land had been lost due to the migration of people to other areas (baradzamwa).
At the ceremony, people were received by headmen who ensured everyone would first remove their shoes. The headmen then led the way to the shrine.
At the entrance was a big black cloth on the left side and a white one on the right side.
While the black cloth symbolised a belief in tradition, the white was representative of Christianity. This was fully supported by the presence of an Apostolic sect and spirit mediums at the venue.
At the entrance stood a man holding a clay pot filled with water. People would kneel before him as water was splashed on their faces.
This is their traditional way of welcoming visitors and cleansing any destructive spirit they may bring to the shrine.
People then walked in a single file while the headmen led the way up the hill where the people sat in thatched huts (dendemaro) that had been built for people to rest in.
Some of these huts were reserved for traditional healers, chiefs and spirit mediums among other respected leaders.
While people sat in groups food was served to them by men only. This is because traditionally when a woman is on her monthly period they say she is not clean to cook food at functions likes these.
After eating, people were ready for the ceremony which started with a speech by Chief Mudzimu. All this while people sat in a huge circle as per requirements of the tradition.
The floor was then given to Bishop Shumba of Johanne Masowe who said he was very happy to work hand-in-hand with traditional healers and spirit mediums.
He applauded the ancestors and said in worship let us not forget to thank our forefathers for giving us the inheritance that we are living luxuriously in today.
Afterwards, it was time to beat the drums as spirit mediums came one by one to the dance floor. This is a way of inviting the ancestors. When the spirit mediums are dancing no women are allowed on the dancing ground.
Each spirit medium would lead in singing a song with the backing of everyone else.
The ceremony went on throughout the night into the following morning. Around 6am members of the Johane Masowe sect were given an opportunity to share words of wisdom.
They preached and sang songs from their church. While a mbira group played music, Zimbabwe National Practitioners Association members taught headmen and chiefs about witch-hunters, false prophets and traditional healers.
Sekuru Friday Chisanyu is president of the Zimbabwe National Practitioners Association.
