Elders hold wisdom for our future

Paidamoyo Chiyangwa (18) who grew up Mabelreign, a medium density suburb in the north-western pars of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare says elderly women play an important role in passing indigenous knowledge from one generation to another. Photo: PELUM ZWE

By Paidamoyo Chiyangwa (18)

I grew up in the medium density suburb of Mabelreign, in the north-western pars of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare. I was accustomed to city life and disconnected from my roots and identity. I did not know what it means to be an African woman.

My wakeup call came through one of my close friends who invited me to spend the holiday with her and her grandmother at their rural home in Mt Darwin, about 160 kilometres north of Harare. When I accepted the invitation, my expectation was to experience a different environment than the one I was used to in Harare. However, the three weeks I spent with Egness Mupandawana (60), my friend’s grandmother whom we affectionately called Gogo Dzikiti changed me forever.

I was captivated by the wealth of knowledge and wisdom that Gogo shared with us. From food production, preparation of traditional foods, gathering firewood, and fetching water from the borehole to intimate issues about self-care. Gogo Dzikiti took me on a journey that opened my eyes, mind and heart to our culture and way of life as Africans.

I was taught how to make peanut butter using traditional utensils such a pestle (duri), a lower millstone used in hand grinding (huyo) and a winnowing basket (rusero). It was a wonderful experience although it was not easy for a city girl like me.

Most interesting and valuable to me was the time that other girls and I spent with Gogo receiving counsel on womanhood and good morals. At times we would even eat in the same plate which was meant to teach us to love one another and remove bitterness and self-centeredness.

My visit to Mt Darwin was an amazing experience and it was only when I got back to Harare that I realised that the visit was preparing me from my next chapter in life. I joined Fambidzanai Permaculture Centre, an organisation that was established to pioneer climate sensitive multi-functional agriculture. I realised that what I had experienced in Mt Darwin was in line with some of the things that I was learning at Fambidzanai.

My goal now is to learn about agroecology and my culture as much as possible so that I can understand who I am as an African woman. I now know that the knowledge our grandmothers hold is important in building a strong foundation for the future.