Rural South Africa tries culture as tourist draw
Sitting on tree stumps in a semi-circle, men wait patiently for a
woman in a brightly coloured Venda dress to dish out her marula fruit
beer from two big clay pots on a straw mat.
As they quench their thirsts, they also dream of toasting the
windfall that the approaching World Cup might bring to their isolated
community.
“Women prepare the brew while the men do the tasting,” said Mthavini
Manganyi, who says she’s brewed the beer since she was a girl,
surrounded by women singing, clapping and dancing as they peel and stir
the yellow marula fruit.
The first three months of the year are beer season across South
Africa’s northern Limpopo province — a time of festivity and
centuries-old traditions of thanksgiving.
With the World Cup fast approaching, provincial tourism authorities
hope to lure foreign visitors by showcasing the culture of rural South
Africa.
“If you really want a cultural experience, come to here,” said Mike
Tauatsoala, spokesman for Limpopo tourism and parks.
But wooing tourists to villages like Phalaborwa is difficult. It’s a
three-hour drive from the nearest World Cup stadium, and there’s not
much else to visit: The road simply ends here.
While Phalaborwa lies on the edge of Kruger National Park, with its
world-famous wildlife, local culture is the only draw to bring tourists
to the sleepy town.
That’s why government decided three years ago to create a Marula
Festival that runs in late February, pulling in thousands of guests with
concerts and, of course, fresh beer.
Most of the foreign visitors come from neighbouring countries, but
the event last year brought in 1.4 million rands (190,000 US dollars) in
revenue, said Joshua Kwapa, another spokesman for Limpopo tourism.
For World Cup visitors, Kwapa says the region offers a glimpse into
South Africa’s past, where people still walk the streets in traditional
tribal dress, far from homogenising urban life.
In these harvest months, women like Manganyi prepare beer in the
shade of marula trees, which grow up to 18 metres (60 feet) and are
regarded as gifts from God.
Once the plum-size fruits release their sweet and sour juices into
the pot, the women stir until it’s smooth, add water, and then let the
liquid ferment overnight.
“The longer you leave it to brew, the more potent it becomes... It
makes grown men weep,” Manganyi said with a laugh.
It’s not for the faint-hearted, but can also be used as a fertility
drug, a medicine, or to ward off bad spirits.
“This beer is different, it also cleanses your whole system. It has
many health benefits and that is why you will not get hangover the next
day — it is natural,” said Manyike Dumisa who had just tasted a beer at
the festival.
Festivities begin in January, often with a ritual slaughter of a goat
or black bull, as traditional healers bless the harvest and the local
chief pours offerings of fresh marula juice over the tombs of dead
chiefs and relatives.
“The ritual performed at the beginning of the festival goes back
centuries and is done to also start the drinking of the marula beer,”
said Kwapa.
Unfortunately the beer doesn’t keep, so World Cup visitors won’t be
able to sample it. Big distillers have had success by using the fruit to
make a cream liqueur called Amarula, which is marketed globally.
AFP
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