Oshituthi Shomagongo is a feast dedicated to Marula fruits ( Sclerocarya birrea, known also as canoeira in East Africa). The marula fruit festival is a way for the Aawambo people of northern Namibia to celebrate by drinking omagongo, a lime-based beverage made of marula fruit.
The marula fruit is called the "food of kings" by the Tonga people, and they pour juice offerings over the tombs of their dead chiefs during the "Feast of First Fruits." From December to March, marula fruits ripen in Southern Africa. The "great harvest" occurs in February or March, which also marks the planting season.
Most of the Venda people view the festival season as a time of festivity, when they sit under the shade of the trees, prepare the brew, and do a lot of "quality control" testing. The marula fruit in Swaziland is called manganu.
In Swaziland, the annual Marula Festival is celebrated at the King's residence at Ebuhieni in the Hhohho during February and March. Each household will present the King and Queen Mother with marula beer, in keeping with its being a 'fruit fit for kings.' Swazis can only drink the beer afterwards.
Oshituthi Shomagongo festivals are celebrated by carving wooden goblets and small serving gourds, as well as tools from cattle horns for piercing the fruit. In the meantime, the women prepare the baskets and clay pots used for omagongo processing.
They gather the ripened fruit with the help of young people and then distill and ferment its juice in clay pots for two to seven days. During this process, the women discuss issues affecting them - such as family problems - sing traditional songs, recite poems, or share their skills in basketry and pottery-making.
At the end of harvest, usually, women in southern Africa make marula beer, and gather around the chief's kraal, presenting him with a calabash full of marula beer. They sing traditional songs called "chembe," while everyone is allowed to drink beer. This festival gives people a sense of belonging, oneness, and togetherness.
Observation, active participation, or emulation play an important role in passing on knowledge and skills gained from processing the marula fruits to both old and young people. However, this festival is a relaxed social gathering where communities and guests socialize, sing and dance, and hear stories from the men.
Oshituthi Shomagongo is a feast dedicated to Marula fruits ( Sclerocarya birrea, known also as canoeira in East Africa).
The festival that lasts two to three days between March and April, Oshituthi shomagongo, marula fruit festival is a way for the Aawambo people of northern Namibia to celebrate by drinking omagongo, a lime-based beverage made of marula fruit.
The marula fruit is called the "food of kings" by the Tonga people, and they pour juice offerings over the tombs of their dead chiefs during the "Feast of First Fruits." From December to March, marula fruits ripen in Southern Africa. The "great harvest" occurs in February or March, which also marks the planting season.
Most of the Venda people view the festival season is a time of festivity, when they sit under the shade of the trees, prepare the brew, and do a lot of "quality control" testing.
The marula fruit in Swaziland is called manganu, baganu, or emanganu. The annual Marula Festival is celebrated at the King's residence at Ebuhieni in the Hhohho Region of Swaziland during February and March. Each household will present the King and Queen Mother with marula beer, in keeping with its being a 'fruit fit for kings.' Swazis can only drink the beer afterward.
Oshituthi Shomagongo festivals are celebrated by carving wooden goblets and small serving gourds, as well as tools from cattle horns for piercing the fruit. In the meantime, the women prepare the baskets and clay pots used for omagongo processing. They gather the ripened fruit with the help of young people and then distill and ferment its juice in clay pots for two to seven days. During this process, the women discuss issues affecting them - such as family problems - sing traditional songs, recite poems, or share their skills in basketry and pottery-making.
At the end of harvest, usually, women in southern Africa make marula beer, and gather around the chief's kraal, presenting him with a calabash full of marula beer. They sing traditional songs called "chembe," while everyone is allowed to drink beer. This festival gives people a sense of belonging, oneness, and togetherness.
Observation, active participation, or emulation play an important role in passing on knowledge and skills gained from processing the marula fruits to both old and young people. However, this festival is a relaxed social gathering where communities and guests socialize, sing and dance, and hear stories from the men.
References
(https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/oshituthi-shomagongo-marula-fruit-festival-01089) (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oshituthi_shomagongo) (https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oshituthi_shomagongo) (http://www.marula.org.za/legends.htm) |Country=Namibia |SDG=(08) Decent Work and Economic Growth, (09) Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, (11) Sustainable Cities and Communities }}