Revival of indigenous knowledge key in promoting agroecology

Smallholder farmers working with PELUM Zimbabwe Member, Muonde Trust in Mazvihwa community, Zvishavane are using traditional knowledge sharing between the older and younger generations. Muonde Trust Research Officer, Daniel Ndlovu (34) says this is helping enhancement of knowledge on environmental protection through live fencing and dry stone walling which in turn minimize soil erosion and gulley formation. (Photo: Collins Chirinda/PELUM Zimbabwe)

Youths working with Muonde Trust in Mazvihwa community, Zvishavane district are embracing their culture and indigenous knowledge systems to reweave the basket of life.

Solomon Tembo (24) is one of the youths from Mazvihwa community who participated in the Jenaguru ceremony, a Shona traditional ceremony held when there was a full moon. The ceremony was a platform created to allow people of all age groups to share knowledge and to create meaningful community relationships.

“I learnt the importance of taking care of rivers, forests and the preservation of biodiversity. The Jenaguru ceremony allows elders to share the history of our community. I have learnt how our ancestors used to ensure food security and good health,” says Solomon.

“They grew traditional seeds and foraged wild vegetables and fruits to enrich their diet,” he adds.

The production of maize and the disregard of traditional ceremonies and rituals continues to threaten the food system. Interventions like the Jenaguru ceremony are intended to strengthen Farmer Managed Seed Systems.

Emmanuel Mhike (35) is the Arts, Culture and Education Officer at Muonde Trust. Emmanuel says the Jenaguru festival was an intrinsic part of the Mazvihwa community but it became unpopular because of cultural erosion. Muonde Trust reintroduced the Jenaguru ceremony in 2015 in consultation with community leaders in an effort to promote knowledge sharing practices between elders and youth in Mazvihwa.

“We revived the Jenaguru concept in 2015 and it is helping the youth with guidance on how to plant trees and take care of the environment. Jenaguru supports and promotes the sharing of indigenous traditional knowledge. This has enabled us to bridge the knowledge gap between our elders and the younger generation of farmers,” says Emmanuel.

Ruth Manhundangwa (31) is a smallholder farmer from the Mazvihwa community. She says the revival of the Jenaguru ceremony has enhanced community resilience and encouraged more households to practice water harvesting techniques using dry stone walling techniques. Dry stone walling is an ancient construction techniques used to construct the Great Zimbabwe monuments in the 4th century AD.