What happens during Imbeleko?

Imbeleko is a ceremony that is conducted on the 10th day after the baby is born, or later. This is an act of detaching the umbilical connection from the mother and introducing the child to the ancestors. Directly translated, imbeleko means the act of giving birth or to carry on your back.

What is Imbeleko in Xhosa culture?

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. Young men are mentored by elders in the bush and are taught about manhood.

What happens if Imbeleko is not done?

Xhosa ancestors believed that if a person did not undergo iMbeleko, they would experience many difficulties, including being cursed with bad luck, getting sick, or even dying. That’s exactly what Monkamane believes was wrong with her life – until she eventually underwent the ritual at the age of 26.

What is Botsetsi?

Simply put, botsetsi is the cultural practice of placing a newborn baby and its mother into seclusion for a period ranging from three months to a year, depending on a particular family’s values.

What do Zulus do when a baby is born?

Imbeleko is a major Zulu ritual practiced after a child is born. The purpose is to welcome the new child to the world and to present him/her to the ancestors.

What is mantsho a ngwana?

Batswana used to have the traditional baby celebrations called mantsho a ngwana, which literally means “taking the baby out” of the house. The celebration coincided with the time when the baby turned three months.

How do the Tswana celebrate birth?

When a mother gives birth, they also have a tradition called ‘Botsetsi’. “When a baby is born, the mother and the baby are kept indoors for a few weeks. The grandmother or aunts take care of the mother and her baby. “We also practise lobola like the majority of South African tribes.

What is Patlo in Setswana?

Patlo means ‘to ask for a woman’s hand in marriage’. The process involves the groom asking his parents to approach the bride’s parents to ask for their daughter’s hand in marriage. Once this has been done, the stage is set for all the negotiations about bride price or bogadi to take place.