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ASSIGMENT 04
CODE NAME: AFL1501
STUDENT NUMBER:
NAME:
SURNAME:

QUESTION 01
1. Initiation/circumcision
(Abakhwetha/ulwaluko)

Initiation
 This is a process whereby among the Xhosa, a young male undergoing
a group circumcision rite to mark the arrival of adulthood.
 Ulwaluko traditional circumcision and initiation into manhood, this
initiation is mainly practised by Xhosa speaking people. Initiates are
called abakhwetha in isiXhosa.aba means a group and khwetha means
to learn.
 Circumcision is the removal of the foreskin from the human penis.
Xhosas are very strict people when coming to their culture, they respect and usually don’t
go against their traditions, and Xhosa people are people who obey their culture. This
includes a boy child before he becomes man that boy must first go to an initiation school
where by his going to be taught about responsibilities of being a man.in Xhosa culture when
you don’t go to an initiation school you are called inkwenkwe meaning a (boy) regardless of
your age, you can be a 40 year old man but if you didn’t go to initiation school you are going
to be called a boy. A boy is not allowed to go to meetings or male activities that will be
taking place at a certain time. You will be called inkwenkwe up until you go to initiation
school. Even when you are circumcised but did not circumcise at the initiation school you

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are still considered a boy, because some they go and circumcise at the hospital but when
they go home they are not considered as man but as boys.
Traditional initiations schools are built far away from home and the communities. Some of
this locations are virtually inaccessible and hard to find. Making adequate monitoring
difficult in case of emergency. Women are not allowed at this initiation schools, only men
are allowed. Females are not supposed to know about rituals taking place at the initiation or
even non-initiated males. According to the rules of the initiation what happens on the
mountain stays in the mountain. In March 2014 a young man was insulted after he had
spoken out during a community meeting about the complications he sustained through the
ritual. A Dutch medical doctor who treated many patients with complications of the ritual,
published the website ulwaluko.co.za in January 2014, the website gives each and every
detail information about the problems accompanying the ritual and offers possible
solutions.

This ritual is commonly done during late June/July or late November or early December.
During the initiation process the traditional surgeon (ingcibi) surgically removes the foreskin
after the surgeon has removed the skin the ingcibi will say (uyindoda ngoku) meaning (you
are a man), the initiate will respond and shout (ndiyindoda) meaning I am a men the image
below reflects on the cutting of the foreskin of the boy so he can become a man.
The photos above reflects something important in my culture, it reflects the importance of
ones culture in my life, because this new coming generation tend to forget about their
cultures, beliefs and norms, so this pictures reflect on who you are, it reflects back on my
own identity, where you come from and where you are going, rituals/ceremonies are
reminders of who we are. The rituals are there to remind us that no matter where you can
go or do, you cannot change who you are, you cannot change where you come from, no
matter how you try to run away from your culture or religion, there will always be
something that will take you back to where you came from, something that will remind you
who you are. For instance when I was in high school many of the learners come from
different places and homes and I remember when the school re-opens late winter some of
the boys that I used to school with they will be wearing a jacket,hat,and will be carrying
(intonga) a stick everywhere they go. The picture below reflects how the boys from our
school dressed like when they come from the mountain(entabeni).being a man in Xhosa
culture comes with a price, one has to prove that he is a man by doing according to his
culture meaning if you did not curcimsiize in the mountain you’re not considered a man but
a boy, those boys who went to the mountain to become man when we were in school they
used to call other students boys because of (abelukanga)they are not circumcised yet, so

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this always caused a fight between students because when they are called (inkwenkwe)one
felt disrespected.

Amadoda

After learning about manhood, the initiate is ready to return home if his doctor
(ikhankhatha) feels he has recovered .the welcoming ceremony of the boy also known in
Xhosa as (umgidi) is one of the spectacles in Xhosa culture my culture. During the ceremony
people will be singing and dancing, this will be a celebration of welcoming (ikrwala) new
man, the initiate is no longer referred to as an initiate but as (ikrwala).the wo
men will be dressed in traditional attire namely (umbhaco).as soon as (ikrwala) the new man
gets home he will be addressed by older men in the community to give him words of
wisdom the process is called (uku yalwa kwe krwala).
Ikrwala is showed with different kind of gifts by the women after the women perform
another action known as (amabele) this is when woman sing and dance. Then they proceed
to give words of wisdom to ikrwala. This is an emotional period process because the women
were not able to see their son when they were initiates. The joy of seeing their child happy
and safe often becomes a highly emotional time for their mothers.
What I practically learned in this assignment in terms of who I am and my culture, is that as
a person you must know your roots, you must know where you come from, my culture plays
a big role in my life in terms of, health, ancestors and my identity, who am I without my
identity? Who am I without my culture? If I don’t know who I am then am clearly lost in life,
sometimes in life you become sick but only to find out your sickness doesn’t require a
medical doctor but it’s a condition that has to do with your culture.
Culture is part of our lives, no matter how you try to avoid being umxhosa somethings will
catch up with you in life, and you will need to go and consult with your ancestors (amadlozi)
in isiXhosa, or perform some rituals in order for things to be smooth in your life.
At first the things that happened at the initiation school were not supposed to be known by
the public but due to some incidents that took place during the initiation, some of the things
were made public, because of a number of death that took place at the school, I personally
have learned about the initiation through a movie called (inxeba) the wound, that movie
was the 1st movie to be produced that revealed all the secrets of initiates, you can also
watch the movie of inxeba at YouTube website is:

'Inxeba' ('The Wound') Official Trailer HD - YouTube

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https://ww

CONCLUSION
What activates cultural/traditional/social grouping

 Traditions cultural practices reflect the values and beliefs held by members of the
community for periods often spanning generations every social grouping in the world
has specific traditional cultural practices and benefits, some of which are beneficial
to all members while others have become harmful to a specific group, such as
women. These harmful traditional practices include early and forced marriages
(ukuthwala

 ), virginity testing, widows rituals (u ku ngena) etc.
Why we have this kind of gatherings.

 Traditions represent critical piece of our culture they help form the structure and
foundation of our families and our society, tradition contributes a sense of comfort
and belong, it brings families together and enables people to reconnect with friends.

Relationship between language, tradition, culture or social grouping.

 Language always carries meanings and references beyond itself: The meanings of a
particular language represent the culture of a particular social group. To interact with a
language means to do so with the culture which is its reference point. We could not
understand a culture without having direct access to its language because of their intimate
connection.
Language and culture have a complex, homologous relationship. Language is complexly
intertwined with culture (they have evolved together, influencing one another in the
process, and ultimately shaping what it means to be human.

The impact of digital media (mobile phones, computers,

internet, on culture/tradition/social grouping practices.

 Social media affects culture in a positive and negative

way, social media has created a platform where by people
communicate, sharing pictures and opinions and other
things. Social media created an opportunity to widen your world and make new friends
from other countries. It is easier to learn about breaking news on social media because it has
unlimited access and flexibility.

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 It also affects our culture in a negative way because now people criticise each other using
social media for example things that happen at the initiation school are things that are not
to be disclosed to the public but because of social media they produced a movie called
inxeba to reveal all the things that happen at the initiation
 People can make brutal and negative comments about anything and anyone. Social media
has good, bad and ugly impacts on our culture.

Does your culture/tradition or social grouping evolve over time? Give examples relating to
each of the categories listed below
50 years ago Today

Which languages Xhosa, English, Xhosa,English,Afrikaans,tswana

did/do your family
speak?
How many of your Not many, I think 6 12
family members
were/are furthering
their education after
Grade 12?
How did/does your letters Cell phones, social media. Internet.
family communicate
with family members
that live far from them?
What kind of house In a shack In a house
did/do your family live
in?
How did/does a groom yes no
ask a bride’s parents
permission to marry
her?
What currency was/is Using cows money
used to secure a bride?
What kind of clothes Western culture clothing e.g. white
did/do the wedding Traditional dress.
couple wear? attire
How did/does the bride Always sitting in the They use make up to prepare
prepare herself for house so the sun themselves.
marriage? cannot burn her.
How did/does the (Ubuhle bendoda They go all out to look handsome. Spend
bridegroom prepare zinkomo zayo) the a lot of money.
himself for marriage? attraction of a man is
his cattle.
What was/is the most (umqonmbothi)Africa Western
common drink used by n beer. alchohol,champaigne,ciders,vodka etc.
your family during
festivities?

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