LIMPOPO- The rural village of Itsani near Tshisaulu nearly came to standstill on June 3 to join in the celebration of granny Ngwaniwa Masindi Ramanyimi’s centenary birthday.
Her relatives, friends and the community at large came together to celebrate this special milestone, joined by royal leaders including Thovhele Thivhulawi Makumbane and Thovhele Ndivheni Nesengani.
Ululation, and song and dance were the order of the day as speaker after speaker described Ramanyimi as a “path finder” in the Ramanyimi and Davhana family, wishing her many more birthdays to come.
Ramanyimi was born and raised in the royal clan of Ha-Davhana in Tshirululuni village near Vuwani in 1923 and was known for raising her children with love, taking them to church every Sunday and encouraging them to take education seriously.
At the time she herself was growing up, it wasn’t fashionable for girls to attend school, and what she lacked in terms of a formal education, she makes up for in terms of her work in the community and that of her own children.
She raised her four children, Maungedzo, Maria, Mushaathama and Avhapfani Ramanyimi by moulding pots and encouraged them to prioritise their own education.
The gogo is a member of the Lutheran Church Itsani village and instills in her children and grandchildren a love for God and attending church.
One of her grandchildren, Mavhuthu Masithi was elated to celebrate her grandmother’s 100th birthday, saying God has saved her to live a long and strong life.
“She is the only person who cooks porridge in the family every day and she never allows any of us to assist. She also cleans the yard of her home almost every day, and in this get in some exercise too,” said Masithi.
Thovhele Thivhulawi Makumbane said he was proud of being associated with Granny Ramanyimi.
