The Abakwetha
In the Xhosa Language, aba means a group, while kwetha meats to learn, hence the word “Abakwetha”, meaning a group learning. What are they learning?
To become men through circumcision.
Five youths at a time are circumcised, ages 17 to 20 years The group of five live together in a specially constructed hut (sutu), which becomes their home for three months while they undergo the transformation from youth to manhood.
Traditional nurse Luxas Mzamo (white cap) in an early morning conference with an initiate, along with other village members, who came to celebrate the homecoming and the end phase of his passage into manhood. Each village member receives a tot of brandy during the meeting.
THE BIG MOMENT: An umkhwetha just before he is stripped and chased down to the river to wash, after which he is rubbed in butter and wrapped in a blanket.
The Inqalathi, a young boy who looks after umkhwetha , is being rubbed in butter and about to be wrapped in a blanket.
A traditional clay-faced, umkhwetha pictured here is still undergoing his traditional rite of passage. He still
has a week to go before he is allowed to leave this environment and face the world as a man. Duncan Village is
visible in the background.
has a week to go before he is allowed to leave this environment and face the world as a man. Duncan Village is
visible in the background.
A close-up of the burning hut, burnt to obliterate everything concerning their youth.
As the new men and the crowd move away, the hut (Sutu) is set alight.
An Inqalathi with his umkhwetha behind him form part of a procession winding their way back to the initiate’s kraal in Duncan Village.
Smoke in the background is from the burning bhoma. The umkhwetha cannot look back as the burning structure represents his past.
Smoke in the background is from the burning bhoma. The umkhwetha cannot look back as the burning structure represents his past.
The boy who looks after his umkhwetha’s needs helps escort this initiate back to his Duncan Village kraal.
An initiate is welcomed home by mothers, sisters, and grandmothers, who be at the traditional corrugated iron ‘drum’.
Girls ululate as the initiate passes.
