Musangwe: bare knuckle fights for honour
According to the president of Musangwe Sport, Tshilidzi "Poison" Ndevana, Musangwe is a form of bare knuckle fighting that is traditionally practiced by the Venda people.
VENDA – THE Venda people have a very rich heritage, filled with many traditions that they protect.
Musangwe fighting is one of these traditions.
According to the president of Musangwe Sport, Tshilidzi “Poison” Ndevana, Musangwe is a form of bare knuckle fighting that is traditionally practiced by the Venda people.
He says the Musangwe fighters who represent the Tshifudi, Gaba, Tshaulu, Lambani and Tshidzini villages gather at a communal place where they battle it out, man to man, for the top honours.
“This is a traditional Venda sport that started in the late 1800’s. There are no prizes for the winners, only personal pride and honour as well as bragging rights for the winner’s village,” he explains.
Ndevana says Musangwe tournaments are held annually, usually between December 20 and January 1, “but this year our Venda king, Toni Mphephu Ramabulana, hosted the Musangwe tournament two weeks ago at the Nandoni dam picnic site”.
He explains that the ground where the Musangwe tournament will take place is always prepared with muthi and charms and Ndevana, as president of Musangwe Sport, is responsible for this significant task.
“Before we start, we tell our ancestors that the Musangwe tournament will now officially begin. It is said that only one fighter ever died in a Musangwe fight in 1929. His spirit is summoned at the beginning of each tournament to protect all the fighters. Traditionally, women are excluded from the competition and their task is to sell traditional mageu to the fighters and onlookers,” he said.
Ndevana says every fighter uses muthi to prepare for the fight and a fighter’s success depends on the strength of his muthi.
