Women pray for bountiful crop harvest in KwaSokhulu

Famous for producing fresh farming products such as bananas and other vegetables, the Sokhulu community in northern KZN commemorated the ancient uMkhosi kaNomkhubulwane over the weekend.

This two-day practice is a prayer in which only married women and virgin girls descend upon the community gardens to ask for blessings from Nomkhubulwane for a productive farming season, and to address various issues affecting the community.

Speaking about the importance of this practice, uNdlunkulu Mamsane Mthiyane said, in the garden is where they pray and ask for everything on behalf of the community, the nation, and traditional leaders.

“After this prayer practice, we start planting and all that we have prayed for we shall receive,” said Mthiyane.

However, Mthiyane further appealed for a formal market to sell their produce, saying most of the time their abundant harvest ends up spoiling owing to the small market they are exposed to.

Elaborating on the practice, Inkosi Phinous Mthiyane of the KwaSokhulu clan explained that this also serves as an opportunity to educate maidens and young men on how to conduct themselves within the community.

“We emphasise for the maidens to form a peer group where they discuss issues of importance affecting them. We further encourage and prioritise education to get rid of unplanned pregnancies among young people in the community,” said Mthiyane.

Offering support for this programme, Nobuhle kaMakhanya-Mashaba, head of ministry at the KZN Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, said uMkhosi kaNomkhubulwane, as a cultural ceremony led by women and young maidens, centred on prayers for abundance and favourable conditions for planting.

“The programme began on Saturday evening with a cultural dialogue, which is an empowering platform where women gather to discuss issues affecting their daily lives. It is important that we continue commemorating these practices to make sure young people understand the meaning of their culture and where it comes from,” said Mashaba.

Also present during the ceremony, uMfolozi Mayor Xolani Bhengu expressed support for the ancient practice of farming, as they believe the source of life comes from working the land.

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