During Ukweshwama, the first fruits festival
a bull is being killed with bare hands
Introduction
In a desperate attempt to halt the tide of poverty, starvation and joblessness, King Zwelithini has repeatedly exhorted his subjects to develop new skills for tilling their lands and producing food. The king says that over he past thirs=ty years he has been “deeply pained” to see vast numbers of his subjects languishing in a cesspool of indigence and squalor.
His Majesty sees the lands that his rural subjects inhabit as being their chief meal-ticket. Determined to jumpstart an agrarian revolution, the king has, over the last decade, revived the “Ukweshwama” or “First Fruits Festival” pioneered by his ancestors.
According to tradition, in a by-gone era, subjects were not permitted to partake of their first fruit yields without first offering them to their king. The festival also served as a thanksgiving to God for providing food for the nation. As the leader of his nation, the king had to firstly accept the early harvest from God on behalf of his kingdom.
There was also a heavy emphasis on the need for Zulu men to grow up to be big and strong so that they could help defend the might and power of the Zulu kingdom.
It was believed that if they helped themselves to the “first fruits” before the king could eat them, then those men would be weak – that they would not grow up to be real men.
Ina nutshell, the festival ordained that when the new harvest season arrived, the king had to eat first before the nation could eat. At a microscopic level, the same principle traditionally applies to individual households where the elders eat first.
The unbridled merriment and cultural song and dance routines that characterise the Ukweshwama festival are symptomatic of the Zulu nation celebrating the fact that they could look forward to bountiful supplies of food in the kingdom.
A major highlight of the festival is the ritual killing of a bull by members of the amabutho with their bare hands. This was a test of their courage and bravery and represented an opportunity for the warriors to prove themselves to be worthy of being in the regiment.
Legend has it that the warriors inherited the power of the bull when the animal was killed. Through their salutations to the king, this power is transferred to their leader who then uses it to protect and defend the kingdom.
Source: zuluroyals.com
This festival takes place every first Saturday in December
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From the Press:
Bull killing festival to go on
16 November 2009
By Nompumelelo Magwaza
Pleas from animal rights activists have fallen on deaf ears and young Zulu men will again kill a bull with their bare hands as part of this year's fresh fruits festival, the Ukweshwana.
The Zulu royal house yesterday denied receiving letters from animal rights organisations, which have condemned the killing of the bull during the festival, which is scheduled to take place in the first week of December in Nongoma, northern KwaZulu-Natal.
Animal Rights Africa said it had sent letters and emails to political heads including King Goodwill Zwelithini on the matter.
The Ukweshwana festival, presided over by the Zulu king, is normally accompanied by a ritual in which young Zulu men kill a bull with their bare hands, which is considered a test of their courage.
Prince Mbonisi Zulu, the spokesperson of the Zulu royal house and the custodian of the festival, said no letters of complaint had been received from animal rights activists and preparations for the festival were going ahead.
"We have not received any kind of correspondence from any animal rights organisations and we are going ahead with the festival, we are preparing for it as we speak."
But Steve Smit of Animal Rights Africa, said his organisation had written several letters to the royal household, the premier and other stakeholders.
Smit said Animal Rights Africa would apply for a court interdict to stop the festival, if necessary.
"If we do not get a response from the people who have received the letters soon, then we will consult with our legal counsel to draw up the interdict application."
Smit said his organisation's actions were not intended to disrespect anyone's culture, but were meant to protect animals.
"It is not fair to put an animal through anxiety and pain, animals have feelings too."
Premier Zweli Mkhize said the government wanted to reach a solution which was acceptable to all parties.
"This is a very sensitive matter and the provincial government wants to consult widely to ensure that all affected parties and roleplayers reach an amicable decision for the benefit of the whole nation," he said.
It had been reported in the media that animal activists in Cape Town had approached talk show queen Oprah Winfrey to intervene in the matter but her office had not responded.
Earlier this month, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) expressed concern about the issue in a letter to President Jacob Zuma.
Last month, animal right activists, who met at the first pan-African conference on animal welfare in Kenya, petitioned the South African Parliament, calling for the recognition of animals as sentient, deserving of care, respect and protection.
They signed a petition calling on Parliament to halt, with immediate effect, the bare-handed killing of bulls.
This article was originally published on page 4 of The Mercury on November 16, 2009
Source: Animal Rights Africa
By Nompumelelo Magwaza
Pleas from animal rights activists have fallen on deaf ears and young Zulu men will again kill a bull with their bare hands as part of this year's fresh fruits festival, the Ukweshwana.
The Zulu royal house yesterday denied receiving letters from animal rights organisations, which have condemned the killing of the bull during the festival, which is scheduled to take place in the first week of December in Nongoma, northern KwaZulu-Natal.
Animal Rights Africa said it had sent letters and emails to political heads including King Goodwill Zwelithini on the matter.
The Ukweshwana festival, presided over by the Zulu king, is normally accompanied by a ritual in which young Zulu men kill a bull with their bare hands, which is considered a test of their courage.
Prince Mbonisi Zulu, the spokesperson of the Zulu royal house and the custodian of the festival, said no letters of complaint had been received from animal rights activists and preparations for the festival were going ahead.
"We have not received any kind of correspondence from any animal rights organisations and we are going ahead with the festival, we are preparing for it as we speak."
But Steve Smit of Animal Rights Africa, said his organisation had written several letters to the royal household, the premier and other stakeholders.
Smit said Animal Rights Africa would apply for a court interdict to stop the festival, if necessary.
"If we do not get a response from the people who have received the letters soon, then we will consult with our legal counsel to draw up the interdict application."
Smit said his organisation's actions were not intended to disrespect anyone's culture, but were meant to protect animals.
"It is not fair to put an animal through anxiety and pain, animals have feelings too."
Premier Zweli Mkhize said the government wanted to reach a solution which was acceptable to all parties.
"This is a very sensitive matter and the provincial government wants to consult widely to ensure that all affected parties and roleplayers reach an amicable decision for the benefit of the whole nation," he said.
It had been reported in the media that animal activists in Cape Town had approached talk show queen Oprah Winfrey to intervene in the matter but her office had not responded.
Earlier this month, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) expressed concern about the issue in a letter to President Jacob Zuma.
Last month, animal right activists, who met at the first pan-African conference on animal welfare in Kenya, petitioned the South African Parliament, calling for the recognition of animals as sentient, deserving of care, respect and protection.
They signed a petition calling on Parliament to halt, with immediate effect, the bare-handed killing of bulls.
This article was originally published on page 4 of The Mercury on November 16, 2009
Source: Animal Rights Africa
9th December, 2010: The South African government has appointed an investigator to determine if the bull slaughter constitutes animal cruelty under South African Law. This goes to show that international campaign efforts are having an impact.
19th September, 2012: A South African court decided that the bull killing ritual should be allowed to proceed.
19th September, 2012: A South African court decided that the bull killing ritual should be allowed to proceed.
While the world wakes up to the fact that bullfighting is an outdated and cruel tradition, in a small province in South Africa a fully grown adult bull is unaware that he is about to suffer the most brutal death imaginable – all in the name of 'culture'.
In the home of the Zulu monarchy, KwaZulu-Natal, the Festival of Fresh Fruits (the Ukweshwana) begins in December. The 'highlight' is the ritualistic killing of a lone bull, by 40 young Zulu men, with nothing but their bare hands.
Over an agonising 40 minutes, the defenceless bull has his tongue pulled and torn out, his eyes gouged, his genitals twisted and tied in a knot, sand shoved down his throat and his head is painfully wrenched around by the horns in an effort to break his neck. The men then stomp and trample on the dying bull until he is dead.
This shockingly violent death is anything but quick, and it's difficult to imagine the sheer terror the bull would be feeling during the long drawn out torture.
The killing is supposed to prove how brave the men involved are, but there's no bravery in torturing an animal. And tradition is never an excuse to abuse an animal!
No animal should ever be made to suffer like this. The South African branch of Compassion in World Farming is campaigning for this to stop, but this issue is crying out for international support. Please show South African officials that the world is shocked by this animal abuse and politely call on them to ban this brutal event now!
Now more than ever the decision makers in South Africa need to know that people from around the world are appalled by animal cruelty - no matter what "tradition" it supposedly continues. If you haven't sent a protest letter yet, please send a one now to help stop this bull torture!
In the home of the Zulu monarchy, KwaZulu-Natal, the Festival of Fresh Fruits (the Ukweshwana) begins in December. The 'highlight' is the ritualistic killing of a lone bull, by 40 young Zulu men, with nothing but their bare hands.
Over an agonising 40 minutes, the defenceless bull has his tongue pulled and torn out, his eyes gouged, his genitals twisted and tied in a knot, sand shoved down his throat and his head is painfully wrenched around by the horns in an effort to break his neck. The men then stomp and trample on the dying bull until he is dead.
This shockingly violent death is anything but quick, and it's difficult to imagine the sheer terror the bull would be feeling during the long drawn out torture.
The killing is supposed to prove how brave the men involved are, but there's no bravery in torturing an animal. And tradition is never an excuse to abuse an animal!
No animal should ever be made to suffer like this. The South African branch of Compassion in World Farming is campaigning for this to stop, but this issue is crying out for international support. Please show South African officials that the world is shocked by this animal abuse and politely call on them to ban this brutal event now!
Now more than ever the decision makers in South Africa need to know that people from around the world are appalled by animal cruelty - no matter what "tradition" it supposedly continues. If you haven't sent a protest letter yet, please send a one now to help stop this bull torture!
Take action!
Send a letter
Please click on the big blue button below to get re-directed to the website of Animals Australia 'Unleashed' (opens in a new tab) and to send a letter to Dr. Zweli Lawrence Mkhize, The Honourable Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, asking him to please stop this brutal festival.
Sign the petition
Please click on the button below to sign the petition sponsored by Care2, addressed to Sonwabile Mancotywa, CEO of National Heritage Council of South Africa.
Send a personalized email to the government of South Africa
Please copy, paste and send the following sample letter, provided by 'Our Compass' to the government of South Africa, or use your own words.
Email: pumezat@cogta.gov.za, VuyelwaQ@cogta.gov.za
Email: pumezat@cogta.gov.za, VuyelwaQ@cogta.gov.za
Dear Minister,
I am writing today to share my disturbance regarding the ritual Ukweshwama, or the First Fruits Ritual.
I have learned that this event is characterized by the methodical torture and slaughter of a bull by Zulu men in a demonstration of manhood, a ceremony celebrating the passage from child to man. During this event, a bull is systematically brutalized, his tongue, eyes, and tail ripped out; the testicles are further tied in a knot and sand and mud is forcibly shoved down his throat while he is beaten and skinned.
This unremitting torture is inflicted on the bull while he is fully conscious, subjecting him to what can only be considered excruciating pain and prolonged suffering: death typically does not occur for almost an hour following this savagery.
With utmost respect, I plea with you to intervene to cease this animal cruelty.
This event is considered a cultural tradition, a celebration of heritage and a demonstration of manly courage and strength. While I would never embrace such an egotistical belief that my opinions take precedent over established and sacred customs, any “tradition”, however, that is built on a foundation of extreme animal cruelty, exploitation, and suffering, and which inflicts pain and fear on innocent, sentient animals, is neither justified, nor an expression of historical or manly pride.
There can be no honor amongst those who condemn animals to such depraved actions substantiating my disturbance that such animal cruelty is perpetuated by the inaccurate conviction that this ritual confirms manhood.
I understand approval is being extended based on the Constitution, Section 31, which provides freedom of religious beliefs; however, religious tolerance ends when innocent beings are targeted for harm and death. Just as one human cannot legally or morally harm another human based on freedom of religious expression, neither can a group expect immunity during rituals that clearly violate the Animal Welfare Act and any international standards concerning the practice of such.
Furthermore, it is my understanding that KZN maintains the highest rape occurrences in the country, a sad and violent statistic to embrace, reinforcing the fact that violence only breeds more violence: when animal cruelty is received with cultural tolerance, both violence and acceptance escalates, the result of which is societal impunity towards human suffering.
As such, I, along with a global contingent of concerned citizens, respectfully request that you intervene to share your hope of peace that can only begin once all creatures are embraced in this vision of harmony and nonviolence. Only upon acknowledging the inherent right to life free from suffering for all creatures can humans fully realize and experience serenity and equity amongst ourselves.
Please provide your voice for others to observe their obligatory duty and responsibility by protecting animals, not condoning their torture; your ethical gesture of compassion would serve as an international model of empathy.
Thank you for your time and attention to this urgent issue.
[Your name, country]
