Thread by @Wamagaisa

The Muzhanje-Rain Complex
1. Back in the village, the Muzhanje tree plays a crucial part in village mythology & local knowledge systems. The Muzhanje starts bearing fruit before the onset of the rainy season. Villagers believe it is a harbinger of news regarding rainy season.

2. For villagers nature announces itself in many ways & over a history of living in close harmony with nature, they have learnt to read signs from it. One of these is the myth around mazhanje. They say when mazhanje are plentiful, it’s a sign there will be probably be a drought.

3. This picture was sent to me a few weeks ago by my aunt in Wedza. You all know my love of Gandamasungo, the great mountain of home. That’s where this picture was taken. Seeing how plentiful the fruit was I recalled the myth but did not raise it with my aunt. Why dampen spirits?

4. Yesterday we had a long telephone conversation. Things are dire here, mwanangu she told me. The crops are either dead or dying. It’s hot and dry. We planted at the first rains & things were promising. But now it’s all gone. A write-off. We’ll have to start again, if it rains

5. It was then that I said “Mbuya used to say when mazhanje are plentiful it’s not a good sign for the season”. Our elders knew their world, my aunt said and we began to reminisce about the old days & reminiscence is a magic wand. It takes you away from the pain of the moment.