What is umgidi

For the umgidi , the village women will dress in traditional attire, with strings of beads and orange and white traditional dresses called imibhaco. They will shower the new man, or ikrwala , with gifts. Khutu says as soon as Samuel arrives home he will receive words of wisdom from the old men of the village, and then be seated on an ukhukho mat in a kraal where the men will visit him and talk about his journey ahead.

He will then be placed in a room and given time to talk to those who gave him gifts to set up his future. He is also given time to reflect on what he has learnt. The day after umgidi , the new man will wear the clothes worn by amakrwala : a formal hat, jacket, shirt, trousers and shoes, usually in brown, beige or khaki. Would you like to comment on this article or view other readers' comments? Subscribe Sign In.

Joy and celebration: Boys return as men. Relief Women celebrate as the village boys return as men. Image: xxx. He is covered from head to toe in a blanket so that no part of him can be seen and carries an unmqayi black stick , a token of authority which implies that a young man wielding it may start his own family. His khankatha main minder removes the blanket off his top half and the two of them sit down.

Women remain in the house whereas men are called to address him in turn at this stage. They go up to offer him life advice, which they do from a standing position in a finger-pointing admonishing tone.

And then… Uncle Victor asks me to go forward. Speak at this ceremony? To myself: Me, an uninitiated alien? Me, Victor?

Yes you. The suddenness of the duty catches me off guard. What to tell the young man? Zolani is then totally covered up again and led out to his room by his minders to more singing.

A few more men arrive, one drunk from another party. Vuyani feels he has to apologise for him. It happens everywhere, I say. It happens everywhere, he nods. I told him not to worry, Zolani would have done us proud, our boy was manly and courageous throughout, he would never have let the side down.

He fills the same shot-sized plastic tumbler to the brim with brandy and offers it to the men in the circle in turn. He pours a same-sized tot for every man. Not knowing this, when it comes to my turn, I ask for a quarter of a glass only. He evinces surprise, then pours out a quarter glass for me against the rules, so concessions are made.

Another chap comes around with more umqombothi for me to drink. Show me again! I down more communal sour mash. A little later, Zolani once again emerges from his room with his minders, this time dressed in a brand-new khaki outfit, and blindfolded.

Agnes, the matriarch, makes a peripatetic speech thanking everyone for attending, and says a few words in praise of Zolani. She is the first of a few women to give him advice. Advice over, singing breaks out and Zolani is escorted back to his empty room, where he has to spend the following week on his own, only allowed out for toilet breaks.

He is only to emerge a week after his umgidi to take his place in the community. Traditional circumcision or initiation is a core element of most indigenous African cultures.

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