Xhosa male initiate swathed in a blanket in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

A young Xhosa initiate, going through his homecoming ritual after a month in seclusion, is swathed in a blanket and holds a stick that has been blackened by the smoke in the initiation hut. December 2006 in Ciskei, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. He keeps the stick for the rest of his life as proof that he has attained manhood. The traditional Xhosa male initiation rite, which transforms the teenager into an adult man, starts with circumcision. The initiates then spend about a month in a special initiation camp, away from settled areas.

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Copyright: Copyright © 2006 Anders Ryman. All rights reserved.
Image Size: 3687x5540 / 9.6MB; Africa Blanket Circumcision Ciskei Coming of Age Eastern Cape Province Eye Front View Head and Shoulders Life Cycle Ritual Looking Male Initiaton Manhood Outdoors Portrait Rite de Passage Rite of Passage South Africa Teenager Traditional and Ethnic Costume Traditional and Ethnic Dress Vertical Xhosa Young Adult Young Man one person
Contained in galleries: Xhosa male initiation, South Africa

A young Xhosa initiate, going through his homecoming ritual after a month in seclusion, is swathed in a blanket and holds a stick that has been blackened by the smoke in the initiation hut. December 2006 in Ciskei, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. He keeps the stick for the rest of his life as proof that he has attained manhood. The traditional Xhosa male initiation rite, which transforms the teenager into an adult man, starts with circumcision. The initiates then spend about a month in a special initiation camp, away from settled areas.