Draft:Jeremiah Reyai Kashaya

This article is about Jeremiah Reyai Kashaya, born August 6 1924 - 10 March 2006. A small-businessman, Chef General silent generation Zimbabwean born later acquired South African citizen.

Born and raised in Mutare, Marange Kadzadzura Kraal, Titili, Zimbabwe. His father Pikita Kashaya died in 1958 practiced polygamy his Father was the great Kashaya whom had amongst his many wives the greatest one known was Tashonga. Pikita's notable great wife known amongst few was Mwaitireni Mandina (Maiden) Kashaya.

Early Life, Family and Education

Jeremiah Reyai Kashaya was born 6 August 1924 in Mutare, Kadzadzura Kraal Umtali Titili, Zimbabwe.The second child from his parents Pikita Kashaya and Mwaitireni Mandina Kashaya. His Father Pikita was a hunter of wild animals for protein. His mother was a full time housewife, farmed and was Christian at a methodist church. She was spiritual and prophetic. Jeremiah had four brothers 1st born Garae Tobias Kashaya, 2nd born Jeremiah Reyai Kashaya, 3rd born Timothy Gungwa Kashaya, 4th born Zwananai Thomas Kashaya. They had a little sister that died at a young age the cause of of her death was not known.

Jeremiah came from a polygamist family, this practice was common in those times 17:00's , 18:00's, 19:00's to date although it is slowly fading. His great grandfather i.e. Pikita's father was called the "Great Kashaya" "The Great One" probably born in the 1700's the date not know since the elders did not use calendars but had their way of counting years it is assumed he lived 150 years in the early 1920's.His notable wife amongst many was Tashonga Kashaya. Another notable wife called Mazvakadeyi Kashaya dies at 180 years in 1978. It is said by family that She was too old her skin was cracking and cow's dung was used to moisten her body, She was blind but could hear and speak. The practice in those days was if an elderly person had aged in the manner where they could not do anything for themselves they would put them at the kraal'entrance so that cows can tramp on them to release them to join their ancestors in the after life. This was a form of releasing a person from suffering. That is how Mazakadeyi met her fate.

In his early school years as a boy together with his brothers they would walk on foot long distance to attend class to the point of having to cross a river on their way to the point of coming back from school.Little is known of his upbringing in the early 1930's, but Pikita had cows and he hunted birds, rabbits and wild life for protein. His mother Mwaitireni farmed corn to make mealies in harvesting time, planted vegetables potatoes and spinach. Mwaitireni was a spiritual woman who once told Jeremiah he would travel far in the world. Their wealth was livestock. Each of the brothers were allocated a cows as they were expected to start their own family's marry a wife at the age of 21+ years.

Move to South Africa 1945

When Jeremiah turned 21 it was his turn to marry a girl named Esnida that was chosen for him by the elders. He had plans, packed his small bag, wanted nothing to do with being chosen a wife. He told her he needs to go to South Africa and that he will be back for her with loads of money. He and his half brother Brighton Kashaya left in the winter. The chosen wife waited for him for 50 years. They traveled from Mutare in 1945 to cross the Limpopo crocodile infested river in winter whilst the water levels were low. Upon his arrival he knocked from door-to-door in the white neighborhoods asking for any general work. Slept on the streets, garden cottages. Racism was at its peak in those days, despite his many arrests he managed to arrive in Gauteng province in the late 1960's. His brother Brighton could not deal with the harsh treatment of apartheid and went back home.