What do Xhosa believe?

The traditional religion of the Xhosa people centered around their belief in a single god, called uThixo or uQamata. But most everyday spiritual needs focus on paying homage to ancestors and spirits. Traditional healers, or "amaguira," can be consulted for everything from ill health to emotional complaints.

What are the beliefs of Xhosas?

Belief System

The Xhosa people are traditionally ancestor worshippers but also believe in a creator who cares for them in the greater things in life and who protects them in extreme danger. The ancestral fathers, on the other hand, watch over the everyday lives of their descendants, their crops and their cattle.

Who is the Xhosa God?

The Xhosa name for God is Mdali, the supreme being. Other names by which he is known are Thixo and Qamatha, a legacy from the Khoi and possibly the San. Qamatha, the creator of all things, controls all things.

How does Xhosa show respect?

Xhosa have traditionally used greetings to show respect and good intentions to others. In interacting with others, it is crucial to show respect (ukuhlonipha). Youths are expected to keep quiet when elders are speaking, and to lower their eyes when being addressed.

What do Xhosa believe about ancestors?

In Xhosa tradition, the ancestors act as intermediaries between the living and God; they are honoured in rituals in order to bring good fortune. Dreams play an important role in divination and contact with ancestors. Traditional religious practice features rituals, initiations, and feasts.

XHOSA BELIEFS | XHOSA RELIGION

Do Xhosa people believe in God?

The traditional religion of the Xhosa people centered around their belief in a single god, called uThixo or uQamata. But most everyday spiritual needs focus on paying homage to ancestors and spirits.

Is polygamy allowed in Xhosa culture?

Isithembu as practiced by the Xhosa people is a complex form of polygamy. In this system a man's wives all have positions in the family. Where a man has two wives the family is divided into two branches called "estates".

Why is Xhosa marriage important?

Marriage is something that is highly valued in the Xhosa culture. When a woman gets married the entire community rejoices with her and her family as marriage is seen as a blessing from God.

What is Xhosa female initiation?

Intonjane is a Xhosa rite of passage into womanhood practiced in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The ritual takes place after a girl has had her first period. This ritual is symbolic of a girl's sexual maturity and ability to conceive.

What rules do Xhosa people follow?

The Xhosa people have a range of cultural customs that they adhere by; some traditional practices include the initiation of males when they are of age, which involves them going to initiation school ('the mountain'), receiving sacred teachings from their elders and emerging as men.

What rituals do Xhosa practice?

Dances and food are a Xhosa way of connecting with the dead and paying homage to their spirits. Sacrificial offerings of goats, food offerings to the spirits of the departed, and dances with specific symbolism, are an important part of Xhosa traditions.

What are Xhosa rituals?

AmaXhosa, like all Africans, believe in ancestors, through which they communicate with God. When a child is born a ritual called imbeleko is performed to introduce a child to their ancestors and vice versa. When a boy reaches 18, he will be circumcised, an act that is seen as a transition from boyhood to manhood.

Who wrote the Xhosa Bible?

Ntsikana (born 1780-1821) was a Christian Xhosa prophet, evangelist and hymn writer who is regarded as one of the first Christians to translate Christian ideas and concepts into terms understandable to a Xhosa audience.

How many wives can a Xhosa man have?

The lobola tradition is also known as “the Customary Law of Marriage” (South Africa; Act 120 Justice Department 2000) which permits the husband to marry up to four wives.

What are the important values of Xhosa culture?

An important traditional value of Xhosa culture is ubuntu, or humanness. At the core of ubuntu is the preservation and stability of the whole. An example of its application is that, in times of war, women and children were never killed.

What do the Xhosa pride themselves as?

In contrast, the Xhosa “pride themselves on being the thinkers,” so they chose to learn English and negotiate with the white settlers instead.

Are Xhosa circumcised?

Traditional circumcision was seen as essential to Xhosa culture. Participants rationalised many reasons for participating, including personal growth and development, family and peer pressure, independence and knowledge gained, a connection with ancestors and initiation into manhood.

How do Xhosa wives wear?

The women wear white dresses that are decorated with black bias binding at the hem and neck, and a headdress made up of two or three different materials of various colours. The colours of the headdresses represent the different areas they come from.

What do Xhosa do when a baby is born?

The Xhosa people have various rites of passage traditions. The first of these occurs 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 were buried or burned to protect the baby from sorcery.

What is the name of Xhosa wife?

Umtshakazi (singular) is a bride and abatshakazi (plural) are brides in isiXhosa language. The word is derived from the word 'tsha' which means new in isiXhosa.

How important is the baby in Xhosa culture?

Birth in the Xhosa culture, is an important rite of passage and is therefore treated with due respect, honour and celebration.

What is traditional Xhosa food?

Samp is a staple dish of the Xhosa people, and it can be eaten on its own or mixed with mashed potato. It can also be cooked with beans and eaten with meat and gravy. Sheep heads and trotters, and chicken feet and heads are eaten as snacks, accompanied by samp or mieliepap.

Can a woman have 2 husbands in South Africa?

In South Africa, a man can marry several wives, but a women cannot have multiple husbands. Politicians are currently discussing giving women all the same rights as men — and that would include marriage laws. Polygyny is permitted in South Africa, but Polyandry isn't.

What happens in Xhosa wedding?

Relatives accompany a bride to the groom's home for the wedding ceremony. The transfer of cattle 'ikazi' from the bridegroom's group to the bride's group served both to seal the marriage and compensate the bride's father for the loss of his daughter's labour in his homestead.

What does a Xhosa Makoti wear?

Once married, a makoti wears an idaki (a dress given to her by her husband's relatives). She wears a blanket or shawl around the shoulders, her iduku, and an uxakatha (towel or thick scarf) around her waist. The shawl represents the qualities of protection and nurturing expected of her.