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Marula Harvest Festival kicks off in Limpopo

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The traditional ceremony to mark the beginning of the marula beer brewing season is under way taking place in Nwa’Mitwa outside Tzaneen in Limpopo.

The “Kuluma vukanyi” or “tasting of the first fruits” ceremony is important for brewers and sellers of the traditional beverage.

[WATCH] Marula harvest festival kicks off in Limpopo

Some people in the province earn a living by selling the beer and by-products made from the marula fruit. Traditional healer Doctor Sylvestor Hlathi performed rituals at the local Valoyi royal house ahead of the tasting ceremony.

He says the rituals are a significant part of the process.

“We encourage people not to drink vukanyi, marula before this ritual has been performed. Our grand grandfather used to do this ritual and then after that everybody can drink marula. That is the way it’s supposed to be done. It’s unfortunate you know in our days before marula is ready before marula ceremony is done, people are just selling marula, putting sugar, putting whatever they can put in marula. We need to do this ritual otherwise they will punish us.”

[WATCH] Marula festival under way in Limpopo

 

 

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