The Tsonga nation has a special relationship with alcohol; it is this intimate relationship that has seen alcohol feature in most Tsonga ceremonies. When a Tsonga child is born, we inform the ancestors using Vuputsu. When it’s time for initiation the same applies, we also use alcohol during marriage ceremonies, and after a funeral ku na byalwa bya tipiki.
Here is a list of Tsonga alcoholic drinks and ingredients
Vuputsu (Beer)
Some refer to it as Mqomboti (borrowed from Nguni) instead of Vuputsu ya Xitsonga.
Swikhendzhakhendzhani (Ingredients) swo endla Vuputsu:
- Puncwana (Mapa)
- Comela
- Mati
Eka siku ro sungula, ku tekiwa mapa ya swekiwa na comela laha swi virisiwaka. Loko swi virile swi hundzuke pungula swi tekiwa swi horisiwa. Loko swi horiswile eka siku leri landzelaka ku cheriwa comela kambe leswaku byi twalela.
Byi vekiwa eka makhuwana laha byi swekisiwiwaka loko byi nga enelanga, eka siku ra vunharhu ku ta kambiwa leswaku xana byi endlile phiriva ke. Loko byi endlile hi laha eka siku ra vumune ku nga ta kambiwa leswaku xana byi virile ku ringanela leswaku byi nga hlutiwa. Loko byi ringanerile bya hlutiwa no cheriwa emakhuwanini leswaku byi ta nwiwa.
Eka minkarhi yo tala eka miganga ya Vatsonga ku na munhu loyi a dumeke hi ku ringa. Hi yena a nga ta vula leswaku byi enerile ku vanhu va nga tikhalambisa hi byona.
Swimbyanyana (Bread Beer)
Laha ku tekiwa xikwa xi lovekiwa kutani loko se rixa xi tlutiwa laha ku humaka byalwa lebyi vitaniwaka leswaku I ximbyanyana.
Vukanyi (Marula Wine)
Modern alcohol made hi Vukanyi i Amarula.
Swikhendzhakhendzhani (Ingredients) swo endla Vukanyi:
- Mihandzu wa nkanyi
- Mati
Ku sunguriwa ku rhoteriwa mankanyi, ya hlengeletiwa laha loko ya enerile leswaku ya nga tirha. Vatswatsi va ta tshama hansi varhumbula, laha hi kona laha ku tekiwaku vundzeni bya Nkanyi ku siyiwa mongo. Timongo titlhela tinghenisiwa eka xibye tikamiwa hi mati ku endlela leswaku hikwabyo vundzeni bya suka. Loko ku hetiwa kwalaho timongo ta nekiwa ku endlela leswaku ku ta deviwa loko se tiomile.
Loko ku hetiwile ku rhumbula, hi loko se byi vekiwa siku, eka siku ra vumbirhi hi laha hi kumaka kona lebyo nyanganya lebyi nwiwaka hi majaha lawa tsongo na lavo nghena kereke. Endzhaku ka sweswo, lebyiya byin’wana byi ta yimeriwa byi hundzuka lebyo bava eka masiku manharhu kumbe ku tlula, laha se byi hundzukaka mbafi. Lebyi hi byona lebyo bava ku fana na xiyakayani na swona byi tshembiwile swinene eka ku aka miti. Leswi swiendliwa hi leswi vavanuna va tiyaka (sexual power) loko va nwile byona.
Vucema (Palm wine)
Swikhendzhakhendzhani (Ingredients) swo endla Vucema:
- Vucema byi huma eka Hanga (Tree).
Hanga ri tsemiwa nhompfu ku sala xigodo leswi endlaka leswaku ku huma mafi ya Hanga. Leswi I endlelo leri fanaka na loko sinya wu huma mafi (mupfu) kasi eka Hanga ku huma Vucema.
Vucema byi kangeteriwa kunene byi karhi byi thona, endzhaku ka 3 to 5 wa tiawara byi ringana 2 wa malitara. Ku vila ka byona a ku teki nkarhi wo leha.
Ku ya emahlweni ku pfatlanya xilondza xa Hanga I ku engetela ka ku thona ka vucema. Vucema byi nga ringana ku tiko hikwarho ri xurha hi tilitara titsongo. Vucema byi na vukarhi swinene.
Alcohol abuse is not cool.
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Image: Gazankulu Republic