Lemba community commemorate Jewish New Year

More than 100 members of the Lemba Cultural Association (LCA) from all corners of South Africa met at the Sweetwaters Farm, near Elim, to celebrate the beginning of the Jewish New Year (known as Rosh Hashanah in Hebrew) on Saturday, 10 September.

The LCA, which was established in 1948, represents the Lemba people, who are often referred to as the “Black Jews” because of their long-standing ties to the Jewish people and culture. The president of the Economic Freedom Fighters, Julius Malema, who is also a member of the Lemba tribe, Chief Mbelengwa Mposi from Zimbabwe, and other dignitaries were among the attendees.  

According to Mr Pandelani Mutenda, the LCA president, the day marked the anniversary of human creation and the special relationship between humans and God, the Creator. The occasion was also celebrated to wish its members a fruitful year ahead and present their plans for the year to the Creator.

“Our year is 5783. We meet and gather to acknowledge what God has created, which is the earth and the life He has blessed us with to live on his earth. It was also about blowing the shofar (ram’s horn), which represents the presence of God,” he explained. 

The association could not host this event for the last three years because of the Covid-19 restrictions. For many generations, the Lemba elders related the story of their origin to their children. Mutenda added that the association recognised the existence and importance of youths in the body of the association and encouraged them to start their own businesses. “We want them to know how to survive using their own hands and to also take care of each other and take the Lemba tribe forward,” he said. 

Six months ago, the association opened its new conference hall, which is considered a significant milestone for them.

Mr Phineas Malima, the general secretary of the association, said that the LCA’s mission was to keep the Lemba culture, oral tradition, and history alive. “We also aim to preserve our culture and history by teaching the young ones and achieving our goals and strengthening the Vhashavhi nation to remain strong, as we have come a long way,” he said.

Date:18 September 2022

By: Thembi Siaga

Thembi Siaga started as an intern during 2021. He assisted with video photography and editing. He also produced numerous small documentaries, focusing on the Vhembe region and its people. Currently he works as a freelance journalist, covering stories in the Elim area. Thembi studied at the Tshwane University of Technology, where he completed his diploma in Journalism in 2021.

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