Afro-Linked Traditional Annual Ceremonies (First Fruits)

AmaZulu and the Ngoni people are both strong tribes in their own rights,  they hold sacred ceremonies and so every year the amaZulu and the Ngoni people practice annual ceremonies which have been passed on from generation to generation, N'cwala for the ngoni people and uMkhosi Wokweshwama for the amaZulu. Through these ceremonies, it is quite clear that the Ngoni people and AmaZulu share more than attires but deeper aspects of their traditions and cultures.  

Every year people from across the world travel to Zambia's eastern province to attend the famous n'cwala ceremony held at the Mtenguleni village in Chipata. The N'cwala ceremony showcases most of the Ngoni people's sacred traditions, the ceremony starts off with a group of elderly women outside the king's temporary house (built for the ceremony) called Manina ya khosi ( mothers of the king) these 60+-year-old women gather around singing and cleaning what looks like a blanket made from leopard skin, the blanket-like is used as a table when the first fruits are being taken to the ancestors, no virgin girls during this time are allowed around the king and everyone is to abstain from all sexual activities.

Ngoni dancers at the N'cwala ceremony 
Photo Source: www.thomasroccio.com 
CChMpezeni 
As the manina ya khosi (Mothers of the king) are singing, a warrior dressed in the full Ngoni attire goes to the king with his spear lifted up and gives the king words of praise, the warrior goes on to say "Nkhosi Yamakhosi (king of kings) among others, after this, the king accepts to go and attend the ceremony, he is escorted by state police officials and his warriors. when the king of the Ngoni people sits on his throne, then the ceremony officially starts.

Ngoni warriors with the slain bull

Photo Source: unknown


The crowd is entertained by traditional dances, songs, and drums, during this time the toughest warrior is assigned to kill a cow, specifically the cow must be a black bull the healthiest and fattest, the warrior has to stab the cow with a spare on the neck and quickly get the blood of the bull before it gets cold to the king who has to drink it, after this the internal organs of the bull are roasted medium rare for the king.  the whole purpose of this ceremony is to sacrifice the first fruits (crops) to the ancestors on behalf of all the ngoni people present or not, they believe that after the crops have been sacrificed the ancestors will bless the harvest. 

This is true for the amaZulu as well, the annual ceremony called Umkhosi Wokweshwama takes place every year in December at the Enyokeni Royal Palace Nongoma attended by people from far and wide. Just like the N'cwala ceremony, this ceremony is also graced by traditional dances songs, and drums. 

This very important event serves to offer the first fruits (crops) to the king, he eats the very first crop and prays to God for an abundant harvest on behalf of the Zulu nation and sacrifices to the ancestors. Young men participate by killing a black bull with bare hands which is later prepared for the king. 


















AmaZulu men at the Umkhosi Wokweshwama
Photo Source: www.kznheritage.org

Another important aspect of this ceremony is the belief that it strengthens the King and the kingdom, the king takes this opportunity to address the crowd on social issues, HIV/AIDS, morals and the roles of a man in his home and community at large 
At the end of the day, everyone in attendance gets to enjoy the first fruits as music and dance go on. 

Zulu warriors with the slain bull.
Photo Source: www.zuluculture.co.za