What do xhosa people live in

The traditional Xhosas do not practice idol worship, but highly regard their ancestors as their connection with the spiritual world.

They accept the existence of a supreme being called uQamata or umDali, whom they regard as the creator of the world. They also believe in the spiritual importance of dreams, sorcery, magic, and witchcraft as well. Christianity was adopted by many of the Xhosa when the European missionaries arrived in their land. Currently, while some Xhosas practice modern Christianity exclusively, most Xhosas practice syncretism, involving an amalgamation of Christianity and traditional tribal beliefs.

Drums, whistles, flutes, and rattles alike are used by the Xhosa to create music. Corn and bread, beef, sheep and goat meat, and a few vegetables, such as beans, rhabe, and imvomvo, constitute the diet of the Xhosas.

Milk is often drunk sour as amasi, and sorghum beer is a popular alcoholic beverage. These grain pits were well plastered and sealed with large stones, in order to prevent water seepage and the consequent spoilage of maize through fermentation and rotting. At the best of times, the maize that was stored in these pits had a musty odour and a sour taste, but it was tolerated, and even enjoyed, particularly during the seasons when maize was in short supply.

Also situated outside, behind or adjacent to the houses, were screened-off cooking areas, an earthen oven for baking maize bread 'isonka' as well as one or more wickerwork bins made of saplings for storing maize on the cob. The swept area between the doorway of the main house and the gateway of the cattle byre was known as the courtyard 'inkunda'. This was where court cases were heard at the Great Place of a chief or paramount chief.

Homesteads were economically self-sufficient entities, withholdings of livestock and lands for cultivation and hunting. A homestead had a number of houses in which a man, his married sons, their wives and their offspring resided. A wealthy man or chief with large cattle herds might have unrelated clients and their families residing at his homestead as well.

There is a small but significant Xhosa-speaking community in Zimbabwe , and their language, isiXhosa, is recognized as a national language. The Xhosa people consist of several tribes with related yet distinct heritages. In addition, there are other tribes found near or among the Xhosa people such as abaThembu, amaBhaca, abakoBhosha and amaQwathi that are distinct and separate tribes which have adopted the isiXhosa language and the Xhosa way of life.

The name "Xhosa" comes from that of a legendary leader and King called uXhosa. Like soldiers inducted into the army, they have their heads shaved.

They wear a loincloth and a blanket for warmth. White clay is smeared on their bodies from head to toe. They are expected to observe numerous taboos prohibitions and to act deferentially to their adult male leaders. Different stages in the initiation process were marked by the sacrifice of a goat. The ritual of female circumcision is considerably shorter. The intonjane girl to be initiated is secluded for about a week. During this period, there are dances, and ritual sacrifices of animals.

The initiate must hide herself from view and observe food restrictions. There is no actual surgical operation. Xhosa have traditionally used greetings to show respect and good intentions to others. In interacting with others, it is crucial to show respect ukuhlonipha. Youths are expected to keep quiet when elders are speaking, and to lower their eyes when being addressed.

Hospitality is highly valued, and people are expected to share with visitors what they can. Socializing over tea and snacks is common.

In Xhosa tradition, one often found a girlfriend or boyfriend by attending dances. One popular type of dance, called umtshotsho or intlombe , could last all night. On some occasions, unmarried lovers were allowed to sleep together provided they observed certain restraints. A form of external intercourse called ukumetsha was permitted, but full intercourse was taboo. For Westernized Xhosa, romances often begin at school, church, or through mutual acquaintances. Dating activities include attending the cinema as well as going to school dances, sporting events, concerts, and so forth.

During the early period of white rule in South Africa, Xhosa communities were severely neglected in terms of social services. In fact, rural areas were deliberately impoverished so as to encourage Xhosa to seek wage labor employment.

In the later years of apartheid, some attempts were made to address major health concerns in these areas. However, most government money continued to be set aside for social services that benefited whites.

As the Xhosa population in rural areas expanded through natural increase and forced removals, rural lands became increasingly overcrowded and eroded. In the twentieth-century, many men and women migrated to urban shantytowns towns comprised of crudely built huts. Poverty and ill health are still widespread in both rural and urban communities.

Since , however, the post-apartheid government has expanded health and nutritional aid to the black population. Housing, standards of living, and creature comforts vary considerably among Xhosa. Xhosa people make up some of the poorest and some of the wealthiest of black South Africans. Poor people live in round thatched-roof huts, labor compounds, or single-room shacks without running water or electricity. Other Xhosa are among an elite who live in large comfortable houses in quiet suburban neighborhoods.

The traditional Xhosa family was patriarchal; men were considered the heads of their households. Women and children were expected to defer to men's authority. Polygynous marriages multiple wives were permitted where the husband had the means to pay the lobolo bride wealth for each, and to maintain them properly. Women were expected to leave their families to live with their husband's family. The migrant labor system has put great strains on the traditional family. Some men have established two distinct families, one at the place of work and the other at the rural home.

With the end of apartheid, some of the families previously separated by the labor laws are beginning new lives in urban areas. Some of these families live under crowded and difficult conditions in shanty-towns and migrant labor compounds. Many Xhosa men and women dress similarly to people in Europe and the United States. Pants for women have only recently become acceptable. As a result of missionary influence, it has become customary for a woman to cover her hair with a scarf or hat.

Many rural woman fold scarves or other clothes into elaborate turban shapes. They continue to apply white or ochre-colored mixtures to their bodies and faces. Other unique Xhosa dress includes intricately sewn designs on blankets that are worn by both men and women as shawls or capes.

Xhosa people share many food traditions with the other peoples of South Africa. Staple foods are corn maize and bread. Beef, mutton sheep meat , and goat meat are popular. Milk is often drunk in its sour form. Sorghum beer, also sour in taste, continues to be popular. One particular food popularly identified with the Xhosa is umngqusho. This dish combines hominy corn with beans and spices. Xhosa also regularly eat the soft porridge made of corn meal flour that is widespread in Africa.

Eggs were traditionally taboo for women, and a just-married wife was not allowed to eat certain types of meat. Men were not supposed to drink milk in any village where they might later take a wife.

The major mealtimes are breakfast and dinner. Children may go without lunch, although school lunch programs have been established by the government. The first Western-style schools for Xhosa-speakers were begun by missionaries.

One of the most famous of the missionary institutions, the University of Fort Hare, boasts Nelson Mandela and a number of other famous African leaders as former students. Under apartheid, African access to education was restricted and many of the best mission schools were shutdown. As a result, adult literacy rates percentage able to read and write dropped, in some areas to as low as 30 percent.

Today, the goal is free education for all those aged seven to seventeen. Literacy and education are now seen as keys to success and are highly valued by most people. Xhosa traditional music places a strong emphasis on group singing and handclapping as accompaniment to dance.

Drums, while used occasionally, were not as fundamental a part of musical expression as they were for many other African peoples. Other instruments used included rattles, whistles, flutes, mouth harps, and stringed-instruments constructed with a bow and resonator. Missionaries introduced the Xhosa to Western choral singing. It was written by a school teacher named Enoch Sontonga in Xhosa written literature was established in the nineteenth century with the publication of the first Xhosa newspapers, novels, and plays.

Early writers included Tiyo Soga, I. Bud-Mbelle, and John Tengo Jabavu. Many rural Xhosa have left home to find employment in the city. Under white rule, Xhosa men were most frequently hired as miners and farm laborers.

Women also worked as farm laborers, but work in domestic service was more valued. For those with high school and college educations, the greatest opportunities were in health care, education, and government administration. In the s, Xhosa sought degrees in all fields. South Africa's migrant labor system has dramatically altered Xhosa social life and put strain on the family. Xhosa children enjoy skipping rope, racing, swimming, and playing hopscotch.

Boys enjoy wrestling and stick fighting. The most popular sport in South Africa is soccer.