Jari Mukaranga
Jari Mukaranga is
a folk song about a conversation between a man, who has many wives, and his
first wife. In a polygamous union, the first wife or the most senior wife is
supposed to be accorded a status of a Queen (Hosi) who deserves respect from the husband, junior wives and all
the children. On the other hand, the most junior wife (Mukaranga) is expected or suspected to be the one the husband is romantically
and sexually attracted to most.
Jari, is a checked
blanket (pictured below) that was a very classy and famous blanket in Rhodesia.
In Zimbabwe, I would hazard to say that only two blankets, the Puma and the
Two-In-One have come close to the popularity and respect that a Jari had. Why would a blanket be so
important? Blankets are very important in the Shona Culture. In some cases, they
have a spiritual value. They are also an indication of someone’s standard of
living, although researchers miss including “number of blankets” in their
surveys. We will discuss more about blankets in future articles.
Image: Courtesy of Laurel Leaf Farm
In the song, the Hosi
named Matichiveyi, is complaining that her husband bought a Jari blanket for the junior wife but
did not buy one for her. The husband comforts his wife by reminding her that
she is special to him as she is the one who “removed him from boyhood”, while
he “removed her from girlhood”. He promises to buy her a Jari and in addition, buy her some grocery items. Then towards the
end of the song the mood of the conversation
changes to sexual advances as husband and wife seal and celebrate the
end of the conflict!
This folk song can be sung as a lullaby or where a number of
people are doing some manual work that needs some rhythm such as winnowing,
pounding, shelling, weeding etc. The lead singer sings one line and the backers
also respond with one line.
Lyrics
L: Kwakutengera jari mukaranga ko ini Hosi?
Backers: Jari
mukaranga
L: Ndokutengera jari mukaranga ko ini Hosi?
Backers Jari
mukaranga
L: Kuzotengera jari mukaranga ko ini Hosi?
Backers: Jari
mukaranga
L: Nyarara mukadzi wangu
Backers: Jari
mukaranga
L: Wakandibvisa mugota
Backers: Jari
mukaranga
L: Ndichikubvisa munhanga
Backers: Jari
mukaranga
L: Jari racho ndinotenga
Backers: Jari
mukaranga
L: Zvinhu zvose ndichitenga
Backers: Jari
mukaranga
L: Apa kasaga koupfu
Backers: Jari
mukaranga
L: Apa kasaga keshuga
Backers: Jari
mukaranga
L: Apa kadimbu kenyama
Backers: Jari
mukaranga
L: Apa karofu kechingwa
Backers: Jari
mukaranga
L: Apa kagodo kesipo
Backers: Jari
mukaranga
L: Mukadzi wangu ndiwo jari
Backers: Jari
mukaranga
L: Murume ndini hari
Backers: Jari
mukaranga
L: Nyarara Matichiveyi
Backers: Jari
mukaranga
L: Mukadzi chimbomira
Backers: Jari
mukaranga
L: Ndere ndere ndere
Backers: Jari
mukaranga
L: Amai sadza nehwahwa
Backers: Jari
mukaranga
L: Nhai imi vaJari
Backers: Jari
mukaranga
L: Murume wacho ndiHari
Backers: Jari
mukaranga
Lyrics from AC Hodza,
#OurCultureOurHeritage
