EarthLore works with rural communities to accompany them on a journey to revive their traditional ecological knowledge and practices, seed diversity and farming and governance systems, essential for navigating climate change and defending their land against growing threats from mining and industrial exploitation. .
March 2024 was a busy month for sangoma Xolosile ‘Xoli’ Themba, who is EarthLore’s main link with the work in Steenbok. At last, after 27 years, the community of Steenbok had agreed to revive the Ihhula (marula) ceremony, also known locally as Emaganu and Ubuganu. The Marula tree has deep…
During 2023, EarthLore successfully celebrated the Year of the Millets, declared by the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) with many activities, celebrations and ceremonies focused on millet and its diverse properties and uses. Millet, particularly Finger millet, is considered a sacred seed and communities along the millet belt in…
On the day after the Mazwimba Seed and Food Fair on 12 October 2023, there was great excitement about the planned visit to Lake Fundudzi, an important Sacred Natural Site for the Venda people. The visit was led by Vhutshilo Netshiavha from the Tshiavha community, a young man from…
A major highlight of this year’s Mazwimba Seed and Food Fair, in October 2023, in the South African province of Limpopo, was the opportunity for farmers to display produce from their fields and gardens together with wild fruits, foods, herbs and medicinal plants. There were a few displays of individual…