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Xhosa male initiates in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

A group of young Xhosa initiates in Ciskei, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, in December, 2006. Clad in blankets and with their faces painted white to ward off witches, they spend more than a month together living outside their communities. After the initiation period is over, and their circumcision wounds have healed, they return home as real men.

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Filename: 5441f.jpg
Copyright: Copyright © 2006 Anders Ryman. All rights reserved.
Image Size: 3661x5482 / 26.0MB; Africa Blankets Bonding Circumcision Ciskei Coming of Age Eastern Cape Province Facial Paint Five People Full Length Life Cycle Ritual Male Initiaton Manhood Outdoors Portrait Protection Rite de Passage Rite of Passage Sitting South Africa Teenagers Traditional and Ethnic Costume Traditional and Ethnic Dress Vertical White Xhosa Young Adults Young Men protecting
Contained in galleries: Xhosa male initiation, South Africa

A group of young Xhosa initiates in Ciskei, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, in December, 2006. Clad in blankets and with their faces painted white to ward off witches, they spend more than a month together living outside their communities. After the initiation period is over, and their circumcision wounds have healed, they return home as real men.