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News - Date: 05 November 2010
The Department of Traditional Affairs, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry and the Modjadji Dynasty came together to celebrate a water conservation awareness and indigenous rainmaking event that was held at Mapungubwe last Friday.
Community elders and leaders visited Mapungubwe´s reburial sites on top of the Mapungubwe hill, where the rainmaking rituals were performed.
The main objective of the event, according to the Chief Whip of the National Parliament, Dr Mathole Mothsekga, was the revival of important indigenous knowledge of water conservation linked to indigenous rainmaking ability, which could be infused into a valuable body of knowledge to manage contemporary challenges such as water scarcity and climate change. He said that in South Africa and the whole of the Southern African region there is a drought. "All the stories scientists told us are not proving to be real, so that is why we resorted to indigenous ways of rainmaking," he said.
Mothsekga said Mapungubwe was a rainmaking centre for Swaziland, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa. He said the centre promoted social cohesion. "Unlike today, where people from other African states are regarded as foreigners, we share a common history. Through these rituals, we can fight xenophobia and also show that the powers of rainmaking are still relevant and people must respect their ancestors," said Mothsekga.
The ceremony was graced by his Majesty, the King of the Vhavenda Tribe, Khosikhulu Vho-Toni Mphephu Ramabulana, and his counterpart, King Victor Thulare Sekhukhune of the Bapedi Tribe.
In his address during the event, Khosikhulu Vho-Toni Mphephu Ramabulala said it was a blessing and an honor to have people like the Mudjadji Dynasty who are gifted in rainmaking. "It is really a good thing for us to have people with rainmaking powers like the Modjadjis. This will really benefit us and the new generation that is coming after us," he said.
He praised community members who turned out in large numbers in support of the ceremony. Mapungubwe is regarded as a rainmaking centre and is said to be the place where the Modjadji Dynasty comes from.
Peter Muthambi graduated from the University of Venda with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Studies. He started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror as well as national papers in 2006. He loves investigative journalism and is also a very keen photographer.
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