Contributions to the ethnobotany of the Southern Ndebele

Abstract

Plants have never been formally recorded in the Southern Ndebele language (isiNdebele). A need to investigate this aspect has resulted in the present study, which has been undertaken to identify and record the ethnobotanical (biocultural) significance of selected plants in Southern Ndebele, one of the 11 official languages of South Africa. The Southern Ndebele have a long history dating back to the early 1600s when the group first split from the original Zulu kingdom and entered the interior of South Africa. Even with such a long history, no comprehensive list of plant names in Southern Ndebele has been compiled to date. However, such a list has been recorded for the Northern Ndebele of Zimbabwe, also a Nguni language. The Southern Ndebele of South Africa and the Northern Ndebele of Zimbabwe (also known as the 'Matabele') are distantly related, each group, however, maintaining its own culture and other practices. For purposes of this study yet another language, Northern Ndebele of South Africa, is considered as distinct from Northern Ndebele of Zimbabwe. The Northern Ndebele of South Africa consist of the Gegana group that went further north and settled around Potgietersrus (now Mokopane), Zebediela, Mashashane and other areas in the vicinity of Polokwane (formerly Pietersburg). Their language (known as Sumayela or siNdebele by some scholars) is currently not recognised as a provincial or national language. Speakers of Northern Ndebele are therefore probably often counted as speakers of Northern Sotho (Sepedi), one of the 11 official languages of South Africa and spoken predominantly in Limpopo Province. Although the two Ndebele language groups of South Africa are geographically close to one another, plant names in Northern Ndebele of South Africa have not been considered in the present study. The term Southern Ndebele is used mainly to refer to all people who speak the similarly named language. Although the majority of this cultural group reside in the former KwaNdebele homeland, much of the region now forms part of Mpumalanga Province. Even though the study was conducted in a particular area of Mpumalanga, speakers of Southern Ndebele are not necessarily confined to Mpumalanga, but are widespread across South Africa. A qualitative survey was undertaken by conducting a number of one-on-one and group interviews with knowledgeable elders and professionals who know and understand the Southern Ndebele tradition and culture. Their views, experiences and perceptions about the plants used by the Southern Ndebele were recorded (supplied on a DVD accompanying this report). Voucher specimens of the plants were collected and deposited in the H. G. W .J. Schweickerdt Herbarium [PRU], Department of Plant Science, University of Pretoria. The multiple uses of the plants identified as well as the associated cultural beliefs and traditional conservation measures as practised by the Southern Ndebele, were recorded. The recording and listing of plants in Southern N debele could go a long way to ensure better communication, enhanced teaching and improved conservation practices. The study focused mainly on woody plants, most of which are native to South Africa, as well as on a few alien species useful to the Southern Ndebele. A list of shrubs and some herbaceous indigenous healing plants is also included in this report. Names of more than 100 plant species and infraspecific taxa are presented alphabetically according to scientific name. Also supplied are the family name, the Southern Ndebele name, and the locality and number of the relevant voucher specimen. As a Southern Ndebele by birth, the author has included his personal insight and knowledge of some of the plant names as well as some cultural background information as part of the introduction to the Southern Ndebele. A list of all Southern Ndebele terms/words and plant names used in the study is supplied to clarify and explain their meaning.