After the hugs, we would all file into the kitchen and complete the greeting and welcoming process
It was not a ” hie and whats up?” kind of greeting. It was an involving and elaborate process.
The greeting process was such that one grew up knowing their totem .This was because when you were being greeted you would be called by the totem.
So from a very young age I knew that I was a Maposa, Chikandamina , WaMambo, Chirasha, VaZimuto who hailed from Masvingo.
Hearing adults call me VaMaposa or VaZimuto evoked emotions , it gave a sense of belonging within the clan.
I am one who has great respect for the totems, call me Old School if you want!
I strongly believe that the totems ensure that one always has a relative wherever they are. As a result one can have a Mother, a grandmother , a brother, an Uncle wherever they are just by connecting through the totem
Back in the day, upon arrival at Gogo VaMaMoyo or Gogo VaMaSibanda the greeting ceremony was similar.We would be acknowledged as the WaMambo clan who were visiting .We would in turn would acknowledge the clan that was hosting us.
Back then my siblings and I would want to giggle , but seeing how seriously the adults were taking the whole greeting process, all the giggles died a natural death!
After the clapping and asking after one’s health and well being and how we had travelled, it was time for a hymn and prayer and then it was concluded that the welcome process had been done and done well to the satisfaction of the elders.
Then at Gogo’ s instruction, it was time to identify the relish.First day it was chicken while the consultations( of which children were not part ) would be done to escalate next relish to goat meat or beef would begin.
The chicken to be slaughtered, a free range one never did come freely to be slaughtered, it always put the ones to eat it to some work, a lot of running I tell you!
It was satisfying , dust and all to catch the identified chicken and take it to the adult responsible.
Then we could freely play , knowing that we had contributed to ensuring that the relish was ready for preparation.
Aunty Faa 's Chat space 