Xhosa Kultuur Notas

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)