Siphesihle celebrates uMhlonyane
Hundreds of virgin girls paraded in the streets of Extension 14 in celebration of Siphesihle Ngobese’s (16) uMhlonyane traditional ceremony.
eMBALENHLE – Hundreds of virgin girls paraded in the streets of Extension 14 in celebration of Siphesihle Ngobese’s (16) uMhlonyane traditional ceremony.
uMhlonyane is a traditional ceremony of the Zulu people for girls when they reach womanhood, depending on what age they reach it.
This ritual is done to introduce a girl to the different stages of womanhood and to warn her to be careful and be watchful of her behaviour.
It is also meant to teach girls how to behave when they reach puberty.
A week before the ceremony, Siphesihle was kept in a separate room away from other people where she stayed until the day of the ceremony.
While she was is in that room, older women visited her to give advice and guidance on how to behave as a teenager (itshitshi – Zulu maiden).
Before the day of the ceremony, the Nomkhubulwane Culture and Youth Development girls stayed with Siphesihle until the next day.
All the girls applied white soil all over their bodies.
In the morning they went to the river to wash.
On their way back to the homestead, they sang traditional songs and danced.
Siphesihle was wearing a costume made of grass.
Dr Nomagugu Ngobese, founder of the Culture and Youth Development, said this is an important event in the development of a girl into womenhood.
She said it is important to preserve the culture.
“Siphesihle is wearing a costume made of grass. Remember that grass is a natural fibre and symbolises that this girl has reached the natural stage of womanhood.”
Siphesihle was welcomed by her grandfather who slaughtered a goat for her and she was introduced to the ancestors.
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