Mavhavhe - THE BURNING Mavhavhe is usually done for the first time about ten to fourteen days after the beginning of domba, and then again at intervals when a sufficient number of new recruits warrants its repetition. It is always followed by thavha and dadashanga. A soon as the morning light appears, the master of initiation orders the novices to come out of the council hut. Blowing on a side-blown trumpet (phalaphala) made of the horn of a sable antelope (see Kirby 1934 :73-76), he leads them to a suitable tree, which should have a fork in the trunk far from the base and be outside the ruler's home (i.e. 'in the bush'). The girls follow, carrying the alto and the tenor drums, and the assistant (nyamungozwa) brings a bundle of dry grass and a burning ember from the domba fire. The girls stand in a line behind the tree and sing domba. The master stands on the other side. Each girl in turn then climbs up and stands in the fork of the tree, while he waves a handful of burning grass to and fro near her. After a few moments, he says "Masha!" The girl jumps down, performs losha humbly and returns to her place.

Novices await their turn to perform the rite, whilst the first girl climbs up into the fork of a tree and the master of initiation prepares a 'torch' of burning grass.

The master waves the 'torch' near a novice. Notice the drums, which are brought so that domba can be played during the rite.

Lesson This teaches girls that they must pluck or shave their pubic hairs. If an old woman inspects a girl and finds that this has not been done, she will burn off her hairs with an ember of the fire. Women are warned that their pubic hairs may cause their lovers pain and inhibit smooth entry, and even precipitate detumescence or damage the penis.

Mulayo  256 Ri tshi vuwa tshi tsha nga matshelo: ri ya mavhavheni a . Ri tshi ya hangei : ri na dzingoma. Ri tshi swika, vhana vha namela muri. vha tshi vhavha tshiguthe tsha muri: vha amba arali musidzana a sa -vhevhuli : vhakegulu vha fhisa nga tshikuni tsha mulilo. When we get up at the break of the day: we go to the burning of the girl [lit. child]. We go outside there: and we take the drums with us. When we arrive at our destination, the girls will get up into a tree. Now when they are burnt by a [burning] stump of wood: this teaches them that if a girl does not shave her public hairs: the old ladies will burn [them] with a piece of burning firewood.

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