A white East London schoolboy has undergone an isiXhosa ritual initiation on a farm near Kwelera, reports the Dispatch online.
A white East London schoolboy has undergone an isiXhosa ritual initiation on a farm near Kwelera, reports the Dispatch online.
Michael Fairly of East London spent three weeks in a hut for the ritual, called ulwaluko.
He was led home by a group of 10 villagers, where he was welcomed in a traditional ceremony by family and friends.
His mother thought he was joking when he first told her what he wanted to do.
"After we realised that he was serious about it we decided to support his decision," said Debbie Fairly.
She admitted that she had been worried sick from the day her son went into the bush.
Father Malcom said while he had been "a bit negative" about it at first, he would now "sleep very peacefully".
Fairly, 17 and a Grade 11 pupil at Hudson Park High School, described the experience as bearable compared to what he had expected. - Sapa
White boy, 17, undergoes traditional isiXhosa ritual
A white East London schoolboy has undergone an isiXhosa ritual initiation on a farm near Kwelera, reports the Dispatch online.
A white East London schoolboy has undergone an isiXhosa ritual initiation on a farm near Kwelera, reports the Dispatch online.
Michael Fairly of East London spent three weeks in a hut for the ritual, called ulwaluko.
He was led home by a group of 10 villagers, where he was welcomed in a traditional ceremony by family and friends.
His mother thought he was joking when he first told her what he wanted to do.
"After we realised that he was serious about it we decided to support his decision," said Debbie Fairly.
She admitted that she had been worried sick from the day her son went into the bush.
Father Malcom said while he had been "a bit negative" about it at first, he would now "sleep very peacefully".
Fairly, 17 and a Grade 11 pupil at Hudson Park High School, described the experience as bearable compared to what he had expected. - Sapa