By Becker Semela:
The hills of the Eastern Cape stood witness to a powerful moment this past weekend, as the Stuurman family rejoiced in the safe return of two of their own – uncle and nephew, Thembinkosi and Luncedo Stuurman – who emerged from the mountain transformed, reborn as men through the sacred Xhosa rite of passage.
For an entire month, they had stepped away from modern life and into sacred time – answering the ancestral call to undergo ulwaluko, the traditional Xhosa initiation into manhood. What they left behind was boyhood. What they returned with was something far deeper: honour, discipline, and an unspoken strength carved into them by fire, silence, and ceremony.
Their return sparked scenes of uncontainable emotion. Traditional songs rang out, women ululated with joy, and tears mingled with pride as the young men stepped back onto their homestead – changed, strengthened, and wrapped in the silence of experience.
Their uncle, Vuyo Stuurman, who had watched them leave as boys, welcomed them back with powerful words:
“This is tradition and they had to go through it. we are happy that they both came back safe and strong. Now they are men ready to take on life with dignity. Thembinkosi and Luncedo will begin the next chapter of their lives as full members of their community, expected to act with wisdom, strength and leadership.”
Their aunt, Nomathemba Booi, stood among the gathered crowd, her pride quiet but resolute.
“They have added trusted men to build the family legacy. They now carry the responsibility to lead, protect and grow the family.”
The ritual of ulwaluko is one of the oldest and most sacred practices among the Xhosa people, passed down through the centuries. It is more than a physical initiation = it is a deeply spiritual transformation. The process begins when initiates, called abakhwetha, are taken to a secluded area in the mountains. There, under the guidance of experienced elders known as amakhankatha, they are cut off from society to begin their training.
The first act – ukwaluka – is a circumcision carried out in traditional fashion. It is painful, symbolic, and secret. But the physical wound is only the beginning. What follows is a period of deep reflection, learning, and mentorship. For weeks, the abakhwetha wear traditional blankets and white clay, stay isolated from the world, and listen. They are taught the values of manhood: how to carry themselves, how to respect others, how to care for a family, and how to be leaders in their communities.
No phones. No visitors. No distractions. Just the mountain, the wind, the fire, and the voices of the ancestors carried through their elders. It is a process of stripping away comfort and forging identity.
Their food is plain. Their beds are made of grass. Their days are marked by silence, endurance, and sacred teachings. The mountain becomes both a classroom and a crucible.
When the time comes to return, they emerge with new names, new status, and a lifelong bond with those who went through the fire with them. They are now amadoda = men. The community welcomes them with open arms, celebration, and ritual blessings.
So it was for Thembinkosi and Luncedo. Their homecoming was more than a ceremony – it was a rebirth. Friends, neighbours and relatives flooded the Stuurman home, singing praises and surrounding the initiates with love, joy, and ancient words of encouragement. The air was alive with drums and chants, the heartbeat of a culture that refuses to fade.
As the sun dipped over the hills and the fires glowed, one could feel the weight of heritage alive in that moment. Thembinkosi and Luncedo had returned = not only healed and strong, but deeply grounded in who they are and where they come from. – @NewsSA_Online
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