Xhosa
Culture
Background info
One of the main
ethnic groups is the Xhosa.
The Xhosa were part
of the steady Bantu migration movement from southern Zaire in various
directions to cover most of Africa, south of the Sahara. The Xhosa
people have developed from an early clan of the Nguni tribal group who migrated
from northeast Africa. The Xhosa first settled in Zululand, and later, as a
result of conflict with other tribes, moved south towards the Great Fish River.
They settled in this beautiful region where rolling hills flow down to natural
seashore, named the 'Wild Coast.' Now, this area is called the Eastern Cape.
The oral traditions
tell that the name "Xhosa" comes from a legendary leader called uXhosa.
Family life
Within the family,
men traditionally fulfill the roles of warrior, hunter and stockman while the
women look after the land and the crops. A clan comprises of a number of family
groups, each led by a chief, or Inkosi, who owes his position
to his mother's status, notwithstanding the fact the women are not formally
given political authority.
Land is communally
held, and great emphasis placed on giving according to need: everything is
shared in good times and bad.
The Xhosa people have
a very rich heritage of which they are proud. Traditionally they are
mostly known as cattle herders and live in beehive shaped huts in scattered
homesteads ruled by chiefs.
Customs
·
Children are usually named by their
fathers or grandparents .
·
It is important to greet everyone as
you arrive and as you go. If for some reason you are not able to greet
everyone, you should greet the oldest person present. You may not greet
someone older than you by their first name. You should always use titles
such as "Father", "Mother", "Pastor" or
"Aunt". You must also ask permission to leave. Likewise,
when serving food, you would serve the oldest person present and men are
usually served before women. Children are always served last.
·
The Xhosa are polygamous, although
today only the wealthier men have more than one wife. Prior to marriage,
prolonged negotiations take place between the bride's and groom's families over
the payment of the bride price (lobola). It is usually 10 cows or
the equivalent in money.
·
In Xhosa
tradition, one often found a girlfriend or boyfriend by attending dances. One
popular type of dance, called umtshotsho or intlombe,
could last all night.
·
Xhosa marriage is called ukwenda.
From a young age, women are taught and prepared for marriage so that by the
time they come to represent their own homes in their husband's home, they do
not embarrass their parents and their maiden home.
·
After giving
birth, a mother is expected to remain secluded in her house for at least ten
days. In Xhosa tradition, the afterbirth and umbilical cord is buried or burned
to protect the baby from sorcery. At the end of the period of seclusion, a goat
is sacrificed.
·
Male initiation
takes the form of circumcision. The abakwetha (initiates-in-training)
live in huts isolated from villages or towns for several weeks. They have their
heads shaved and cover their bodies in white clay. They only wear a loincloth
and are give a blanket for warmth.
The ritual of
female circumcision is considerably shorter. The intonjane(girl to
be initiated) is secluded for a week during which the tribe holds dances and
perform sacrifices.
Food
Staple foods are maize and bread, beef, mutton and goats' meat. Xhosas also
drink sour milk and sorghum beer. One particular food popularly identified with
the Xhosa is umngqusho, a combination of maize, beans and spices.
Traditionally, eggs were taboo for women, and a just-married wife was not
allowed to eat certain types of meat. Men were not supposed to drink milk in
any village where they might later take a wife.
Clothing
As with the khwetha,
many of the traditional rituals of the Xhosa involve strict adherence to codes
of dress. Married women keep their heads covered, and hairstyles and
headdresses ' often indicating status - remain fashionable.
Depending on the
area, a turban cloth worn well down over the eyes may indicate that the wearer
has a child; but that she is till observing the ritual of respect she must show
her husband's family. In the old days, a girl would go bare-breasted until she
married. Until then, a young woman of marriageable age may wear a head cloth
and skirt, but no apron. Only on marriage would she be permitted to cover her
breasts.
Religion:
Adoration of the ancestors, sometimes called "ancestor worship," is
very prominent among the Xhosa people. The ancestors are still considered
part of the community of the family. They believe the ancestors reward
those who honor them and punish those who neglect them. Many mix ancestor
worship with their Christian faith. There is a strong sense of loyalty
among the tribe or community. Most things are shared and those that have
more are expected to share more.
Xhosa Legends
One of the most
famous Xhosa man in South Africa today is Nelson Mandela (Qunu). Other
well-known Xhosas are Archbishop Desmond Tutu; ex-President Thabo Mbeki
(Idutywa)
Afikaans vertaling:
Agtergrond inligting:
Een van die belangrikste
etniese groepe is die Xhosa.
Die Xhosas was deel van
die Bantoe migrasie beweging van die suide van Zaïre af in verskillende
rigtings, meestal suid van die Sahara. Die Xhosa-mense stam van die Nguni stam
groep af. Die Xhosas het eers in Zululand gewoon en toe suid beweeg in die
rigting van die Groot Visrivier, as gevolg van konflik. Dei gebied word nou die
Oos-Kaap genoem. Tradisies vertel dat die naam "Xhosa" afkomstig is
van 'n legendariese leier genaamd: uXhosa.
Gesinslewe
Mans vervul die rol van
’n vegter, jagter en veeboer, terwyl die vrouens kyk na die grond. 'n stam
bestaan uit 'n aantal familie groepe, elk gelei deur 'n hoof, of “Inkosi”,
wat sy posisie aan sy ma se status verskuldig is. Vrouens het nie formele
politieke gesag in die Xhosa kultuur nie.
Grondgebruik is
kommunaal: en 'n groot klem word geplaas op die gee volgens behoefte: alles word
gedeel in goeie en slegte tye.
Gebruike
(customs)
• Kinders word gewoonlik vernoem deur hulle
vaders of grootouers.
• Dit is belangrik om almal te groet as jy by
’n plek aankom en as jy gaan. As jy vir een of ander rede nie in staat is om
almal te groet nie, moet jy die oudste persoon teenwoordig groet.
Jy moet altyd gebruik maak van titels soos
"Vader", "moeder", "Pastoor" of "tannie".
Jy moet ook toestemming vra om kamer te verlaat. Net soos
by die bediening van kos, sal jy die oudste persoon teenwoordig eerste bedien en
mans word gewoonlik voor vrouens bedien. Kinders word altyd laaste
bedien of gehelp.
•Xhosa mans het meer as een vrou, maar vandag
het net die ryker mans meer as een vrou. Voor die huwelik moet die bruid en
bruidegom se families onderhandel oor ’n prys vir die bruid: “lobola”. Dit is
gewoonlik 10 koeie of die ekwivalent in geld.
• In die Xhosa-tradisie, ontmoet jy dikwels
'n vriendin of kêrel deur danse by te woon. Een van die gewildste tipe danse is
die “umtshotsho” of “intlombe” .
• Xhosa huwelik word “ukwenda”
genoem.
• Na die geboorte, word 'n
ma afgesonder in haar huis vir ten minste tien dae. In die Xhosa-tradisie, word
die nageboorte en naelstring begrawe om die baba van toorwery te beskerm, “Inkaba”. Aan die einde van die tydperk van afsondering, word 'n bok geslag
“Imbeleko”.
• Manlike inleiding is
in die vorm van die besnydenis. Die “abakwetha” woon in hutte geïsoleerd van
dorpe of stede af. Hulle koppe word geskeer en bedek
hul liggame met wit klei. Hulle bedek hulle liggame net met ’n doek.
• Die instelling van
vroulike besnyding is heelwat korter. Die “intonjane” (meisie geïnisieer te word)
is afgesonder vir 'n week waartydens die stam danse hou en offers verrig.
Kos
Stapelvoedsel is mielies en brood, bees, skaap en boksvleis. Xhosas drink
ook suur melk en sorghum bier. Een spesifieke kos wat algemeen geïdentifiseer is
met die Xhosa is “Umngqusho”, 'n kombinasie van mielies, boontjies en
speserye.
Tradisioneel, was eiers taboe vir vroue, en ’n getroude vrou is nie
toegelaat om sekere soorte vleis te eet nie. Mans is nie veronderstel om melk te drink in 'n
dorp waar hulle later 'n vrou kan kry nie.
Geloof:
Voorvaderaanbidding
is baie prominent onder die Xhosa-mense.
Die voorvaders word nogsteeds beskou as deel van die gemeenskap van die
familie. Hulle glo die voorvaders beloon
die wat hulle vereer en straf die wat hulle verwaarloos. Baie Xhosas het ’n mengsel
van voorvaderaanbidding en ’n Christelike geloof. Daar is 'n sterk gevoel van
lojaliteit onder die stam of gemeenskap.
Die meeste dinge word gedeel in die Xhosa kultuur, en die wat meer het word
verwag om meer te deel.
Xhosa Legendes
Een van die mees bekendste Xhosa mans in Suid-Afrika vandag is :Nelson
Mandela (Qunu). Ander bekende Xhosas is aartsbiskop Desmond Tutu; oud-president
Thabo Mbeki (Idutywa)