Farmer Thanyani celebrates his 110th birthday
Thanyani Joseph Radali said the secret to a long, happy and successful life is only to get married once.
LIMPOPO- In the dusty Vhembe village of Maraxwe-Mbahela under the Tshivhase Tribal Authority, well-known farmer Thanyani Joseph Radali celebrated his 110th birthday on Saturday.
The village nearly came to a standstill as his children, relatives and the community joined in the celebrations.
Ululations and song and dance were the order of the day as speaker after speaker, described Radali as the father of the Maraxwe-Mbahela villagers, wishing him many more fruitful years.
Radali was born in 1913 and raised in Ha-Ratombo near Levubu and over his many years lived in many areas until he finally settled in Maraxwe-Mbahela village in 1940. He is known to have raised his children with love, and is much-loved himself around the area.
“Although I worked some years in Johannesburg, I returned to Marxwe-Mbahela to work as a subsistence farmer. I planted vegetables, grains and tobacco among others. I bought a bucket for as little as 50 cents and a wheelbarrow that is still used by my children and grandchildren.”
Radali, who can still see well says his hearing has been somewhat affected by old age, but asked about his secret for his many years, he does not hesitate: “I have never drunk alcohol in all my years, and exercised through working hard in the orchard”.
He did, however, also share another secret as the key to longevity. “If you want a long and happy life, only marry once. I have eight children with one wife and this has given me a long life.”
Vhamusanda Nkhodeni Mmbi, who came across Radali while doing some research on the Vhavenda traditional leadership, said the 110-year-old has a good knowledge of using proper Tshivenda, especially proverbs.
