The use of Beer parties in a Karanga village

There are tragedies and good memories all coming from the Karanga beer parties.To mind come tragedies like ,though not quite a beer party,but matidohwaa okwaMuvhundusi.A real tragedy that still pains many a family.But there are times of joy and song as demonstrated in many drunken songs.A happy fine celebration of life within my people.

The Karanga people probably like other African make use of beer and food to come together and celebrate or come together for something.It is in this article that I will try to clarify what place beer (and food) get to be used for.

I true tradition I do not remember the use of beer and food in celebrating any one's birthday.All my life I never heard anyone rich or poor in the village having a birthday party.In those traditional days I can assume no food or drink was used in the celebration of birthdays,that therefore would be modern trend.There was however some low key celebration of birth,(kupemberera mwana)

There were celebrations like wedding muchato muchadho or mutimba.There there would be so much food depending on what it was and how many guests were expected and how ell to do the family was.There would be beer brewed,beer bought and goats cows and chicken slaughtered for the guess.This was also true of other marriage rites like masungiro ,pwanyazhowa ,and the like which would be celebrated but at lower level than the marriage or wedding.By the way masungiro and pwanyazhowa are some unique African rites with no comparison in English life.

There was use of beer and food in abundance when there was a humwe.Some call it nhimbe.People would be invited to come and help the host with his chores ,like thrashing his grain,(humwe yokupura) or ploughing his fields (humwe yokurima,or weeding his fields (humwe yokushakura.)People would come with their own implements some even with more food .Work as identified would be done and in between work people would have drink and food breaks.Songs out of there ould normally be dirty like 'chandanunga muguyo','museve wezheve' and rova ikoshore to name but a few.(anyone wants lyrics of these songs can conact the writer privately)

The most popular beer party was ndari,pronounced with a heavy nda as in ndhari.This was more like a village shebeen.This is the one my brother would be after when he asked a passing someone ,'Nhasi rinodyiwepi'(where are we eating today).Surprisingly there would be days when there would be nothing for very long range.yet he would answer ,'hoo apo',as if it was close by when told where there was ndari.With ndari thy could send even under age children to buy take away.At times one would be entitled to a free cup called nzwisa,as if to taste and sample the brew first.This where the teenager would have his first taste.

Ndari could also be had in residence.It could at times be there for the whole night.or even for some days.Ndari by its nature was a fund raising brew.beer would be brewed and sold.Some would add a ti party and have it go overnight with food for sale and music and dance.Unfortunately it was ndari which always caused fist and knife fights when some people would take to gambling or talk to some one's girlfriend.

Although death was a community function beer would not be as abundant because it will be only by buying.No one actually brews beer for a funeral because it is not anticipated and planned for that way.It would be taboo to brew beer in anticipation for some one's death.So normally mourners are catered for through buying from ndari.Food is normally provided mostly because among my people burial is a community thing that no one is paid to take part in.grave diggers are just the able bodied
men of the community.

The main ritualistic beer party is doro rechikaranga or chivanhu.This is also called bira.This is a religious rite.Beer is brewed and people are invited to the function.This is normally a family gathering but because of the openness of the culture people in the community are always welcome.They may not necessarily take part in the rites but they do take part in the eating.These ritual parties are many and varied depending on families.

For the wider community there is also the rain making ceremony or mutoro.Others call I mukwerere.This is a ritual party bringing together people in the community under he hostage of the community traditional and spiritual leaders(not the christian spiritual leaders).The rain making brews are far and wide but when they are done people are expected to attend and give their support.

There are other gatherings where my people use beer and food.I am happy to hear further inputs from readers but these almost cover the main ones.