THE provincial government of of KwaZulu-Natal has partnered with the Tembe traditional council in hosting the first fruits festival, known as the Umthayi Festival.

THE provincial government of of KwaZulu-Natal has partnered with the Tembe traditional council in hosting the first fruits festival, known as the Umthayi Festival.

With the amarula fruit and the products that come from it as theme, Umthayi is a unique celebration of culture, heritage and transborder relations since it is attended by people from neighbouring Mozambique and Swaziland.

The main feature of the festival is the unique practice of the Tembe people, in which they bring gourds of amarula beer to the inkosi who, according to custom, must be the first to partake of the brew before the community can join in the festivities.

But this year the provincial government has decided to utilise the networking opportunity provided by the festival, particularly with leaders from Mozambique and Swaziland, by hosting a closed networking session on the eve of the festival itself.