Izibulo.

The first stage is Umtwana (child). It refers to a baby from 0 -3 years old. (See fig 1)

Izibulo (firstborn) is the name that refers to a first-born baby of a family. Izibulo do not wear any distinctive adornments to show that he is the firstborn (see fig 1), but his mother does wear adornments that are associated with her first-born child. Umtwana wears a string of beads (Amaso) on his waist of which these beads come from a specific plant. (See fig 3).

Figure 1 - Elliot, A., (1967:57) This is the firstborn child of a family, Umtwana. (The magic world of the Xhosa)

Figure 2 - Elliot, A., (1967:57) This is a young mother with her firstborn child. (The magic world of the Xhosa)

Figure 3 - a string of beads called (Amaso).

Figure 4 - Broner, L., (1947 47.94) Xhosa nursing woman Necklace, 1930s, Glass beads, agapanthus root.

According to Elliot, A., (1970:57) “The string of beads worn by the child on his waist called (amaso) (see fig 3) are believed to offer magical powers and protection to the child”. He also confirms that “a necklace of small round lengths of Agapanthus root (see fig 4) as thick as her finger and nearly as long, each usually painted white with clay or chalk worn by the young mother is the sign that she is nursing her first child” (see fig 2). (Elliot, 1970)