Unomgcana.

Unomgcana: newly married man.

This is Unomgcana (a newly married man.) on his wedding day with his newly wedded wife(umakoti) the man keeps his headband and he is now wearing a long necklace 

Unomgcana is the last stage of a Xhosa man milestones I will be discussing. This a man at an age of 35- 50 years, Unomgcana is a married man, this is a stage where has taken a wife and has built a homestead. His main roles are to protect and provide, he is wearing a collection of over 75 individual pieces of beadwork each piece having a name. (Isivalo, idiliza, isiyeye, inciyo, ithumbu, isigcina, inqhonqo, umgcebo, mgu, vulwakabini, isidlokolo, itema. According to Boaster J (1967: 17,18,19) she highlights that a craft of beadwork has accepted design and motif, the beauty of which is rich in imagination and aesthetic appreciation, meaning not all bead work has rituals or traditional significance, most Xhosa beadwork is worn for its beauty and appreciation. I will be looking at this status of his manhood and the significance of what he is wearing related to his status as a married man.