What Majuru Tell Us
Long before satellites, weather apps, and climate models, we relied on soldier termites known locally as majuru quietly marching to the pulse of the seasons.
These termites and their flying cousins, ishwa or shwarara, which emerge with the rains, are collected and enjoyed as a fried nutritional delicacy, serving as both a savoury snack and a meal accompaniment.
Beyond their nutritional value, their behavioural patterns has fed us profound ecological insight.
Within Indigenous Knowledge Systems, the activity of majuru serves as a vital ecological indicator, responding keenly to shifts in temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure.
Their presence typically signals fertile, well-aerated soil, as they thrive in areas rich in organic matter and microbial activity. Their levels of activity or lack thereof, act as a natural forecast for rainfall or impending drought.
Spotting majuru during winter, indicates that the season is nearing its end, temperatures are beginning to rise, and spring is on the horizon.
When they swarm, and the landscape is dotted with active termite mounds, it predicts a bumper harvest season characterised by plentiful rains.
Conversely, when majuru disappear and remain dormant deep underground long after winter, it signifies a dry season ahead.
This year, with forecasts predicting more excessive El Niño conditions than usual, the soldier termites appear to be preparing for a long, dormant stay underground.
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