For the past several weeks I've been assisting some of the iTEACH team in planning and preparing for a very big event: the launch of the traditional healer practitioner (THP) integration initiative. The key words here are "very big" and "traditional". Getting ready for any big event is crazy enough – add on special traditional considerations, like ritual slaughtering, and it's downright bonkers.
During the first few meetings there was a lot of back and forth (mostly in Zulu) about how and where to buy a cow for the event. The cow eventually grew to include 4 goats, 2 chickens, possibly some sheep, and possibly a few extra chickens. Once the requisite animals were decided on, the day and location of slaughter had to be sorted out.
Goats have to be slaughtered first to notify the ancestors that a big event will be taking place. Our event is being co-hosted (by iTEACH and the Mpumuza Tribal Council), which means a sacrifice from each party. And from what I understand, those sacrifices must take place on each party's home turf. So to start, we have two goats being slaughtered in two different places and this must take place before any other animals go.
After the ancestors have been notified of the event (goat death), slaughter of the animals necessary to the event itself can take place. Cows are big; slaughtering one and cutting it up into cookable pieces is no small task, so it was decided that the cow would be killed and butchered at the farm and kept in a cold room until the event. That leaves us with 2 goats and 2 chickens – one male, one female of each, so that both male and female ancestors are recognized. Since those guys are the smallest they can go last – the night before the event, killed on site.
The possible sheep and possible extra chickens are potential gifts for important peoples, so they get to live.
In summary, Wednesday night one goat is slaughtered at Makhosi Mamela's house (on behalf of iTEACH) and a second is slaughtered at Nkosi Zondi's house (on behalf of the Mpumuza Tribal council). Thursday, Mr. Cow says good night at the farm. Friday night, goats 4 and 5 and chickens 1 and 2 go. Saturday is the event; guests eat beef.
I'm sorry if I've offended any vegetarians (I don't eat meat myself), but that's how things are done here. Perhaps I made the animals look a little too cute in my doodle.
During the first few meetings there was a lot of back and forth (mostly in Zulu) about how and where to buy a cow for the event. The cow eventually grew to include 4 goats, 2 chickens, possibly some sheep, and possibly a few extra chickens. Once the requisite animals were decided on, the day and location of slaughter had to be sorted out.
Goats have to be slaughtered first to notify the ancestors that a big event will be taking place. Our event is being co-hosted (by iTEACH and the Mpumuza Tribal Council), which means a sacrifice from each party. And from what I understand, those sacrifices must take place on each party's home turf. So to start, we have two goats being slaughtered in two different places and this must take place before any other animals go.
After the ancestors have been notified of the event (goat death), slaughter of the animals necessary to the event itself can take place. Cows are big; slaughtering one and cutting it up into cookable pieces is no small task, so it was decided that the cow would be killed and butchered at the farm and kept in a cold room until the event. That leaves us with 2 goats and 2 chickens – one male, one female of each, so that both male and female ancestors are recognized. Since those guys are the smallest they can go last – the night before the event, killed on site.
The possible sheep and possible extra chickens are potential gifts for important peoples, so they get to live.
In summary, Wednesday night one goat is slaughtered at Makhosi Mamela's house (on behalf of iTEACH) and a second is slaughtered at Nkosi Zondi's house (on behalf of the Mpumuza Tribal council). Thursday, Mr. Cow says good night at the farm. Friday night, goats 4 and 5 and chickens 1 and 2 go. Saturday is the event; guests eat beef.
I'm sorry if I've offended any vegetarians (I don't eat meat myself), but that's how things are done here. Perhaps I made the animals look a little too cute in my doodle.
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