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THE LEGEND OF THE NJELELE SHRINE
Njelele is a sacred shrine in Matopo Hills
. It's the abode of the deity MWALI also known as Mwari, Mlimo, Ndzimu - The Almighty God
It's known as a Rain-Making Shrine but it's more than that...
Njelele is a sacred shrine in Matopo Hills
. It's the abode of the deity MWALI also known as Mwari, Mlimo, Ndzimu - The Almighty GodIt's known as a Rain-Making Shrine but it's more than that...
MEANING: Njelele is a Kalanga name for a particular Rain Bird.
Could also been derived from the name of the founding priest NJENJEMA
DEITY: MWALI
FOUNDER: Njenjema
LOCATION: Matopo Hills
BELIEVERS: Mostly Kalangas
CUSTODIANS: The Ncube clan
SPIRIT ANIMAL: Baboons/Monkeys
Could also been derived from the name of the founding priest NJENJEMA
DEITY: MWALI
FOUNDER: Njenjema
LOCATION: Matopo Hills
BELIEVERS: Mostly Kalangas
CUSTODIANS: The Ncube clan
SPIRIT ANIMAL: Baboons/Monkeys
THE VOICE
Mwali used to speak directly to Mankind
His voice came from a cave within the Hill, when invoked by the 'priests'
Kuthwa, it sounded like it was coming from heaven and has been described as gentle, bold, reassuring and multilingual
WHERE DID IT GO? ~Explained Later
Mwali used to speak directly to Mankind
His voice came from a cave within the Hill, when invoked by the 'priests'
Kuthwa, it sounded like it was coming from heaven and has been described as gentle, bold, reassuring and multilingual
WHERE DID IT GO? ~Explained Later
CEREMONIES
First harvest
Rainmaking
Fertility
Blessing seeds before planting
Cleansing
Spiritual fulfilment
Etcetera
First harvest
Rainmaking
Fertility
Blessing seeds before planting
Cleansing
Spiritual fulfilment
Etcetera
HIERARCHY
NTUNGAMILI - High priest. Talked to Mwali. If Mwali relocated without telling anyone, Batungamili would find him
BATUMWA - Messengers - take messages to the chiefs (People)
WOSANA - Rain & praise dancers chosen by Mwali
MALOMBWE - Rain dancers chosen by Batungamili
NTUNGAMILI - High priest. Talked to Mwali. If Mwali relocated without telling anyone, Batungamili would find him
BATUMWA - Messengers - take messages to the chiefs (People)
WOSANA - Rain & praise dancers chosen by Mwali
MALOMBWE - Rain dancers chosen by Batungamili
CUSTODIANS & HIGH PRIESTS
Of the Ncube clan because their totem animal is a Baboon/ Monkey
live on hills above the ground so they can see āfarā so Ncubes see far (into the future)
Only high priests were allowed into the cave. Like a Holy of Holies type of situation
Of the Ncube clan because their totem animal is a Baboon/ Monkey
live on hills above the ground so they can see āfarā so Ncubes see far (into the future)Only high priests were allowed into the cave. Like a Holy of Holies type of situation
MWALIāS COMMANDMENTS
1. Donāt WORSHIP ancestors (other gods besides Me?)
2. Keep Mwaliās day of rest holy Wednesday, Thursday or Friday depending on village. (Sabbath?)
3. Donāt commit adultery
4. Donāt set other peopleās huts on fire
5. Share food with your relatives
1. Donāt WORSHIP ancestors (other gods besides Me?)
2. Keep Mwaliās day of rest holy Wednesday, Thursday or Friday depending on village. (Sabbath?)
3. Donāt commit adultery
4. Donāt set other peopleās huts on fire
5. Share food with your relatives
6. Thieves and witches are not allowed in Njelele. If spotted, kindly stone to death! 
7. No sexual activity near the mountain or on the pilgrimage
8. Donāt be jealous
9. No fighting, blood shedding, quarrels etc especially on holy ground
10. Respect your neighbours
7. No sexual activity near the mountain or on the pilgrimage
8. Donāt be jealous
9. No fighting, blood shedding, quarrels etc especially on holy ground
10. Respect your neighbours
THOU SHALL NOT:
1. Eat first harvest before Mwaliās go ahead - Ceremony first
2. Eat egg laying locusts near the hill
3. Eat baboons and monkeys (Sacred animals)
4. Leave Njelele without a proper goodbye or else they wonāt reach home
1. Eat first harvest before Mwaliās go ahead - Ceremony first
2. Eat egg laying locusts near the hill
3. Eat baboons and monkeys (Sacred animals)
4. Leave Njelele without a proper goodbye or else they wonāt reach home
DO NOT:
5. Take watermelon seeds from Njelele after a festival or you will walk on the same spot for days
6. Cut down trees around the shrine or death will locate you
7. Kill animals around the area
8. Wear shoes, anything metallic or red (Colour of death/war/blood)
5. Take watermelon seeds from Njelele after a festival or you will walk on the same spot for days
6. Cut down trees around the shrine or death will locate you
7. Kill animals around the area
8. Wear shoes, anything metallic or red (Colour of death/war/blood)
PUNISHMENTS
No rain if people misbehaved too much!
Diseases, pestilences, deaths, drought, plagues - Ask Pharaoh
'Blindness' - See what happened to the first Ndebele people? Read on
WANT FORGIVENESS?
Brew beer, sacrifice a black ox/black goat, dance, say you are sorry.
No rain if people misbehaved too much!
Diseases, pestilences, deaths, drought, plagues - Ask Pharaoh
'Blindness' - See what happened to the first Ndebele people? Read on
WANT FORGIVENESS?
Brew beer, sacrifice a black ox/black goat, dance, say you are sorry.
BELIEFS/MYTHS
1. Mwali is the Christian God so he did a similar Old Testament to New Testament transition where He didnāt interact directly with humans anymore because people were wilding too much
2. Kalangas are Mwaliās chosen people - Israelites chosen nation vibes
1. Mwali is the Christian God so he did a similar Old Testament to New Testament transition where He didnāt interact directly with humans anymore because people were wilding too much
2. Kalangas are Mwaliās chosen people - Israelites chosen nation vibes
3. Njelele is the mountain where God spoke to Moses
4. Wosanas can walk through fire and sleep on burning coals and still remain unburnt - Daenerys vibes
5. You can find honey all over the sacred cave walls. Eat as much as you like but strictly no take aways!
4. Wosanas can walk through fire and sleep on burning coals and still remain unburnt - Daenerys vibes
5. You can find honey all over the sacred cave walls. Eat as much as you like but strictly no take aways!
PILGRIMAGE
People trekked to Njelele on foot around August to ask for rain amongst other things.
Some still do.
People trekked to Njelele on foot around August to ask for rain amongst other things.
Some still do.
RAIN MAKING RITUAL
Dresscode: All Black
Bring: Drums & Whistles
Only virgins and post-menopause women can partake in the deep stuff
Rainmakers sing and dance until Mwali is pleased
Dance: Roll on the ground. Speak in tongues. Praise. Clap hands. Ask and it shall be given
Dresscode: All Black
Bring: Drums & Whistles
Only virgins and post-menopause women can partake in the deep stuff
Rainmakers sing and dance until Mwali is pleased
Dance: Roll on the ground. Speak in tongues. Praise. Clap hands. Ask and it shall be given
The Voice of Mwali would then respond for all to hear. Giving instructions and approvals etc
RAINMAKING DANCE
Dance style: Hwoso - Male dancers
Three drums used
1. Big- Tjamabhika (What you have cooked)
2. Medium - Shangana neshumba (meet the lion)
3. Small - Dukumo/Mandobo
RAINMAKING DANCE
Dance style: Hwoso - Male dancers
Three drums used
1. Big- Tjamabhika (What you have cooked)
2. Medium - Shangana neshumba (meet the lion)
3. Small - Dukumo/Mandobo
VISITING HOURS
August - September Rain asking season
Last Moon (Elimnyama) - No visitors allowed, only Wosana and priests
WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOU GET THERE
Say: āThobela Mbedzi nkulu Dziba levulaā
Thobela - Respected one
Mbedzi - Lord
Dziba levula - Pool of water
August - September Rain asking season
Last Moon (Elimnyama) - No visitors allowed, only Wosana and priests
WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOU GET THERE
Say: āThobela Mbedzi nkulu Dziba levulaā
Thobela - Respected one
Mbedzi - Lord
Dziba levula - Pool of water
AmaNDEBELE
The Ndebele came to Kalanga Land in violence. They stole, killed and destroyed
Kalangas didnāt fight back. They forgave them for the Ndebeles knew not what they were doing
Kalangas went and told Mwali what the Ndebeles were doing
Mwali said he will deal with them
The Ndebele came to Kalanga Land in violence. They stole, killed and destroyed
Kalangas didnāt fight back. They forgave them for the Ndebeles knew not what they were doing
Kalangas went and told Mwali what the Ndebeles were doing
Mwali said he will deal with them
Ndebeles went āblindā. They couldnāt see the Kalangas but the Kalangas could see them
They saw livestock as rocks and crops as grass. They couldnāt believe it
Mzilikazi came 2 years later and was pissed by what his people had done. Heads rolled - literally (Long story)
They saw livestock as rocks and crops as grass. They couldnāt believe it
Mzilikazi came 2 years later and was pissed by what his people had done. Heads rolled - literally (Long story)
The VOICE has been silent since 1914 (Some claims of 1974)
Myths
1. A rogue soldier stole the voice
2. People disrespected Njelele so much Mwali got fed up and left
3. White people bombed the rock to see the āVoiceā and it angered him
4. Old Testament period was over
Myths
1. A rogue soldier stole the voice
2. People disrespected Njelele so much Mwali got fed up and left
3. White people bombed the rock to see the āVoiceā and it angered him
4. Old Testament period was over
PRESENT DAY
Shrines occupied by opportunists wanting money
Someone broke in, stole gold & broke claypots
The hill was bombed day before elections in 1980
You canāt just rock up like kuse Shebeen! You need to follow the rules, observe dresscode and be led by the right people
Shrines occupied by opportunists wanting money
Someone broke in, stole gold & broke claypots
The hill was bombed day before elections in 1980
You canāt just rock up like kuse Shebeen! You need to follow the rules, observe dresscode and be led by the right people
DISCLAIMER: I started the narration from Njelele.
Mwali is said to have existed in other places before that.
It was like the Ark of the Covenant in the Bible, you know? Moving with the Tabernacle?
Also, Njenjema wasnāt the first ever priest. He was the first at Njelele
Mwali is said to have existed in other places before that.
It was like the Ark of the Covenant in the Bible, you know? Moving with the Tabernacle?
Also, Njenjema wasnāt the first ever priest. He was the first at Njelele
KALANGA PEOPLE
A peaceful tribe, protected by Mwali. They won many battles without fighting them
Rainfall fell, the harvest was plenty and drums were loud. It was all holy, sacred and beautiful. Then one day the Voice of Mwali went silent and all hell broke loose
THE END
A peaceful tribe, protected by Mwali. They won many battles without fighting them
Rainfall fell, the harvest was plenty and drums were loud. It was all holy, sacred and beautiful. Then one day the Voice of Mwali went silent and all hell broke loose
THE END
