13 Oct 2025

The Bakalanga community in the North East and areas along the Botswana border celebrated the official recognition and safeguarding of the Hosana ritual, a rainmaking practice rooted in ancestral worship and cultural heritage.

The Hosana ritual, an integral part of Bakalanga tradition, involves community prayers, feasts, songs, and dances aimed at invoking rain and celebrating harvests. It also marks the beginning of the ploughing season. 

Its  practice features distinct roles for community leaders, practitioners, and the Mbedzi (high priest), with active participation from community members to ensure the tradition’s survival through observation and mentorship.

Speaking at a recent community ceremony handing over the official certificate of recognition for the Hosana practice, Assistant Minister of Child Welfare and Basic Education, Mr Justin Hunyepa, highlighted the cultural significance and urgent needs for its protection.

“In 2013, a research exercise recorded 143 elements of our intangible cultural heritage. Among them, Hosana required urgent safeguarding due to its declining practice and the risks of distortion,” Mr Hunyepa explained.

He said that only three villages, Ramokgwebana, Mapoka, and Mbalambi remain actively involved in conducting the ritual, with many sacred sites lying dormant or being desecrated due to neglect and non-use. 

Additionally, some traditional leaders have converted to Christianity, further hindering the community’s ability to freely practice their ancestral rites. Only about 20 elderly practitioners are still active, facing disapproval from Christian converts who see the rituals as incompatible with their faith.

Mr Hunyepa warned that the misappropriation of songs, dances, and ritual objects, sometimes by outsiders had led to a gradual distortion and the neglect of associated taboos. Despite these challenges, he said  the process of inscribing the Hosana ritual into official records began in 2018, with delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The nomination was finally submitted in March 2023, and the ritual was inscribed onto the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in December 2024.

The cultural practices related to Hosana, including the initiation activities like ku luma (biting), ku zhulila matumba (drum playing), and ku dusa mbhewu (seed distribution), have been documented in both print and digital formats. 

 He also highlighted that such inscription of Hosana into official records was a step forward in ensuring that the practices were preserved, respected and celebrated and as such, he encouraged the community to take active role in safeguarding their intangible heritage.

Kgosi Ngocho Habangana emphasised the role of traditional leaders in protecting cultural artifacts and practices. 

“It is our duty to safeguard our heritage. As we pray for rain as our ancestors did, we must also reflect and avoid modern influences that threaten our culture,” he said.

He further called for unity among Bakalanga communities and encouraged people across Zimbabwe to learn and appreciate their languages and customs, ensuring that their rich cultural identity remains vibrant for future generations. ENDS