11 Aug 2020

Different religious denominations across the spectrum flock Motsenekatse Hills to consult deity and for ritual purposes.

Trails at the place illustrate that people use the area for ritual purposes. 

Traditional healers visit the site to collect herbs and materials, which they believe would bring good luck as well as make them stronger.

A custodian of Motsenekatse Monuments and Cultural Site, Omphemetse Olefhile told BOPA in an interview recently that it was paramount to observe the times of viewing the site as failure may anger the ancestors, resulting in bad omens for the visitors. 

She said visitors could view the area from 7.30am to 12pm and then from 3pm to 6pm, pointing out that non adherence to the times could be risky for the visitor. 

She said at first one would be warned by mysterious winds. 

The site comprises three hills, where Mmadithakwana is sandwiched by Motsenekatse and Motsenekatsana.

Motsenekatse was a Setswana rendition of Mzilikazi that means ‘the great road or rather route’. 

In fact, the evidence of historians and archeologists shows that the Matebele clan led by Mzilikazi lived at the hills during the period; hence the name Motsenekatse Hills.

Atop the hill, is a tomb believed to be one of the Ndebele supernatural performers, which a lot of people give veneration and visit the site for healing, blessings as well as to enquire from deity about their future as power of the tomb is used as a link between prayer petitioner and divinity. 

Olefhile said one could not take motion pictures at the tomb, as mysterious creatures would appear on the video and the gadgets would be damaged, citing some incidents in the past where such happened.

She also said should one go to the tomb with bad intentions, wild animals would appear from nowhere and injure them, adding that the place was regarded as sacred.

She shared that religious groups, church denominations, faith groups, tribes and cultural movements visit the area to cleanse themselves as well as to avert bad luck.

She said badimo or ancestors, were invisible and were mainly heard by older people, as they speak their own language and make violent wind sounds whenever they move. 

She said they aid people in health and there were many cases of people who were kidnapped and returned, knowing the full badimo language. 

Olefhile shared that such people were chosen to deal with badimo, adding that traditional beer was brewed and taken to the hills and thereafter would leave the traditional beer and come back later to discuss with badimo and collect the utensils, adding that surprisingly the utensils would be empty indicating that ancestors drunk the beer.   

She said that was another way of pleasing ancestors pointing out that people would tell badimo what they felt about their lives.

“If badimo were satisfied, they would tell the people what their expectations were. 

Badimo also serve the purpose of notifying the next of kin about a death or if someone is dying and how to avert it,” she said. 

In the case of Motsenekatse Hills, she said they always find traditional beer, which would also disappear in a day or two. ends