OPINION PIECE: LET’S TALK TRADITION

In the past few months’ social media did not shy away from the controversial topics that include cultural practices more especially traditions in isiXhosa culture. These topics are usually spoken about in certain settings and by certain people, topics that will cause a clash in opinions and beliefs.

The 2022-2023 initiation season left nothing but jaw dropping reactions and endless debates on the do’s and don’ts of this part of the isiXhosa culture.

Initially, as times change, things change too and the unexpected downfall is people changing and westernizing culture in the process.

Homecoming ceremonies were one of the heated topics of the season and the main focus in this piece is the debates around this topic.

What is ‘umgidi’ (Homecoming) in the isiXhosa culture?

According to the African Dictionary “umgidi is the ceremony that’s done to celebrate a boy or boys (umkhwetha) coming back from the mountain (initiation school)”.

“Uku’gida, it’s not isiko, it’s just a homecoming celebration that the new man has come home safe and alive”, says former initiate.

Why the debates around this ceremony?

Cultural topics will forever be controversial in my opinion. Debates on this topic spiraled after “faults” in homecomings were seen on social media. Faults or wrongdoings such as videographers capturing moments on the mountains, decors, hiring of dj’s, man sitting on the chair instead of a rug, and many more other faults mentioned on social media by so called “cultural expects”.

After conducting research on the issue at hand I found quite interesting pointers that include how our African culture is being lost in the mist of Western Culture, how money influences how certain ceremonies and traditions are practiced and also the influence of social media and the “importance” of content creation in today’s world.

Firstly, we all come from different backgrounds and how ceremonies or celebrations are done will differ from one to another. Hiring and showing off when you can afford in my opinion has its negatives and positives. Negatives mainly being the negligence of tradition and whole purpose of the ceremony being forgotten in the process. Positives being able to accommodate and having a successful event at the end of it all.

A never-ending list of the do’s and don’ts of how things should be done in isiXhosa will forever be there if we as Africans do not go back to our roots in the midst of change and the exposure of Western Culture and social media.

Views on topic:

“The money, the social media and influence culture have put so much pressure on us that much that we end up not doing things the old way… When people have money, inspired by the need to do a show off instead of performing tradition. They lose the essence of the traditional process. It is the commercialization of our heritage that is to blame to some degree. It is good to preserve with the aim to educate but we need to be protective of watering down our own cultures and heritage”, says Quan Dambuza.

“What I’ve seen on social media during the season was the slight exposure of “abaKhwetha”, them being taken pictures of, taking pictures of the huts they live in and making memes out of them. According to my knowledge, those things aren’t supposed to be done at all. Ulwaluko is meant to be sacred tradition, where there’s supposed to be high level of isolation to society when they are away”, says Bukhobethu.

In conclusion, there’s so much more that still needs to be spoken about and fixed by Africans. Debates on culture, tradition and beliefs will always be there if we don’t learn to embrace our African culture without the dilution of western practices.