Xhosa male initiates leaving initiation camp in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Without looking back, Xhosa initiates leave the initiation camp, where they have spent about a month in seclusion. December 2006 in Ciskei, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The camp is set on fire after their departure as a symbolic farewell to childhood. 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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Filename: 5445.jpg
Copyright: Copyright © 2006 Anders Ryman. All rights reserved.
Image Size: 5514x3676 / 14.4MB; Africa Blankets Circumcision Ciskei Coming of Age Departure Eastern Cape Province Farewell Horizontal Large Group of People Leaving Life Cycle Ritual Male Initiaton Manhood Men Outdoors Rite de Passage Rite of Passage Smoke South Africa Xhosa
Contained in galleries: Xhosa male initiation, South Africa

Without looking back, Xhosa initiates leave the initiation camp, where they have spent about a month in seclusion. December 2006 in Ciskei, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The camp is set on fire after their departure as a symbolic farewell to childhood. 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.