Tobacco, particularly in the form of snuff, is important in interactions with ancestral spirits, who are believed to be responsible for their living kin’s well-being or tragedy. At cultural ceremonies like Ukuthethela/Bira (to ask for intercession and guidance), the ancestors are usually invoked or appeased, and tobacco is ideally served. Additionally, one can use snuff when they are communicating and communing with their ancestors in a process known as Ukuphahla (taken from the word Umphahlo). In this documentary we get to explore the uses of snuff with the dimensions of African spirituality and look at the different types of tobacco used in Zimbabwe namely; Gasa, Hondo, Ibute, Umdombo, Chambwa, and Chikwarimba. Our guests discuss the work of snuff within the context of Ndebele, Kalanga and Shona cultures respectively.
