Umkhwetha: (Initiate of manhood)
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| Figure 1 - This is an Umkhwetha an initiate in training. he has a shaved head and he is smeared with white clay from head to toe. |
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| Figure 2- These are initiates (abakhwetha) sitting in front of their grass hut wearing blankets for warmth with their faces smeared with white clay. |
The fourth stage of the Xhosa man
milestones I will discuss is Umkhwetha.
It refers to initiate of manhood. This stage refers to ages of 18-25 years old.
This is the stage of ending adolescence; it is a process in the form of
circumcision.
The abakhwetha (initiates-in-training) live in special grass huts (see
fig 2) isolated from villages or towns for several weeks. (Elliot 1967) “they
are like soldiers inducted into the army, they have their heads shaved” (see
fig 1). They wear a loincloth and a blanket for warmth (see fig 2). White clay
is smeared on their bodies from head to toe (see fig 1). They are expected to
observe numerous taboos (prohibitions) and to act deferentially to their adult
male leaders. Different stages in the initiation process are marked by the
sacrifice of a goat. I will be focusing at the way they look at this stage, the
look that signifies their status, the white clay, the blanket, the significance
of this stage in his milestones to design a piece or pieces of jewellery that
will be an adornment attached to his status.
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