Girls Initiation Ceremonies in Zambia: Reflections on their Role in Girl Child Educational Advancement. cultural orientation robs girls of their independent thinking and becomes an obstacle in a girls educational Without any further introduction, the drums started beating and the women burst out in song. Every April, in Zambia, the Makishi demons come to take away young boys. Initiation has been a missing component in the modern world and needs to be re-introduced with new understanding and consciousness.First published in 1972. In many agrarian communities, she notes, "There's nothing like adolescence. To cut the story short, it was women themselves who lambasted Mr Chibanda (I hope the man is still living) he was almost getting fired from UNIP and Its Government. A people without culture is a people lost. These numbers were lower during a week of initiation ceremonies in which some of the young teenage girls we know were subject to violence and sexual exploitation. African female initiation ceremonies are rites of passage for girls entering womanhood, and are usually a public annoucement of the girl's eligibility for marriage. While there have been a number of descriptions and interpretations of boys' initiation rituals, Audrey Richards' classic study of initiation rites among the Bemba remains one of the few studies to deal in detail with the initiation of girls into adult life.Dr. Female initiation rites appear to be at odds with westernized urban society in present-day Zambia. Of late in most . About 15 years ago. THERE is need to intensify female initiation ceremonies if Zambian culture is to be upheld in the face of decaying moral values in Zambia. - Terms & Conditions. This was the consensus among Lusakas Jack compound residents who felt that it was time for parents to start remembering tradition and go back to the times when young men and women were taught how to be responsible and cultured in all areas of ones life. Girls initiation ceremonies are an important aspect of the Zambian culture and traditions, and Bridget Banda, who went through this training before she got married three years ago, looks back on it as a very positive experience. The female initiation ceremony is called 'Chisungu'. Powered by WordPress. practices violate girls privacy rights, including their freedom of expression and movement. If they come out the other end after fighting Lions, etc. NO WONDER SO MANY DIE OF AIDS THAT SIDE. In the corner two ladies were seated, holding large drums. During the initiation ceremonies as a transition from childhood to adulthood, some aspects of these traditional ceremonies such as sex education given to the . No, no, youre doing a Shakira, they said when I would still be shaking too many other parts. Lets move on! During the ceremony, female Chilombola initiators, traditionally teach sex skills to girls as young as 12. . Take for instance tattoos, hair-plaiting in different patterns, food, dressing (but, not complexion changing), including the cultural part of sex and love-making, etc. A ritual during which an initiate is admitted to an organization or given secret knowledge; sometimes contains one or more tests that have to be passed or endured. Those people are professionals at these things, so he will be much better off there.. They said it was important that young people were educated in Zambian traditions, culture and customs so that they grew up as responsible citizens. in her own right. As simple as going back to basics, minus the (religious?) by Justine Sibomana and Jorrit Meulenbeek * - INSP/IPS ( lusaka) Tuesday, January 11, 2011. You. Women's Initiation in Zambia: Dancing in Bed. past and striving to make things better for the future. LUSAKA, Jan 11 2011 - Staying in Chawama, a compound outside Zambias capital Lusaka, I spent many an evening chatting to the local women as they sat outside and cooked on their charcoal braziers. The role of initiation ceremonies as channels of sex education is . Dr Richards observed the entire chisungu or female . Why? Initiation ceremonies are very important not just in the villages but also in urban areas because they stand to benefit a lot of people. Whatever they are taught in these ceremonies should continue forever. While there have been a number of descriptions and interpretations of boys' initiation rituals, Audrey Richards's classic study of initiation rites among the Bemba remains one of the few studies to deal in detail with the initiation of girls into adult life. raising the voices of the South and civil society on issues of development, globalisation, human rights and the environment Richards observed the entire chisungu or female initiation rite, an almost continuous series of complex ceremonies lasting for a month. They said it was important that young people were educated in Zambian traditions, culture and customs so that they grew up as responsible citizens. HISTORICALLY, initiation ceremonies that entail the rites of passage of girls into womanhood were largely associated with marriage. Initiation ceremonies generally take place when a girl reaches the age of twelve to fifteen years old. So when their wife does not live up to that, they end up having affairs., That is one of the main risks of not going through initiation, says Florence Mutambo, one of the experienced banacimbusa who are teaching me. There was a problem processing your submission. Chig'ande is the music of the Tonga of Southern Province, it is performed during a social courtship dance also known as ching'ande. You have selected an article from the AllAfrica archive, which requires a subscription. Women say that modern culture was slowly overshadowing the old ways and destroying traditional culture and values on which the Zambian nation was built. So some UPND chap will now come up and promise to deliver initiation ceremonies in all districts IF elected in August . Now, when I see women who did not go through it, I think I am much better off.. Sex is part of life so someone needs to be taught how to deal with it. etc female initiation ceremonies) that systematically INITIATION CEREMONIES WILL BRING BACK MORAL VALUES - WOMEN Posted on 25 February 2016. Girls' initiation ceremonies are an important aspect of the Zambian culture and traditions, and culture and traditions are powerful symbols of human identity. But some women have charged that times have changed and there was no need for young people to undergo ceremonies when they could just be taught for a few hours. Girls initiation in the context of an urban Roman Catholic community on the Zambian Copperbelt, and then in 2001 on the female initiation rites in Urban Zambia. In a village nestled between Limpopo and Mpumalanga, girls as young as seven embark on a six-week secret rite of passage to prepare them for their journey into womanhood. Elongation of the Labia Minora Is A Violation of womens bodily autonomy. As a result of all this, the societies in Zambia have experienced a decline in morals, conduct, dress code, respect and behavior in the young women. A Girl's Initiation Ceremony Among the Bemba of Zambia By Audrey Richards Copyright Year 2021 ISBN 9780367540944 Published March 29, 2021 by Routledge 226 Pages FREE Standard Shipping Format Quantity SAVE $ 4.40 was $22.00 USD $17.60 Add to Cart Add to Wish List Prices & shipping based on shipping country They convey a sense of special uniqueness Date: 22nd April, 2020 Journal Impact Factor Report 2018 Date: 24th November, 2018 Girls' Initiation Ceremonies in Zambia: Reflections on their Role in Girl Child Educational Advancement. The next day I learned even more moves and skills, like how to shave my husband down there. The balck woman not pink: There is nothing legal about Northern Rhodesia, Ba monica mwanza: SAMPA YOU ARE FINISHED GO BACK TO PF PLEASE SWALLO Ruth: The CBUAU must be disbanded. Sex is the taught during counseling for marriage!I believe it is a good culture to keep!! According to Mulauzi, Nyambe and Mtanga (2014) and Phiri, Musonda nad Daka (2020) initiation ceremonies like puberty rites are found in most parts of Zambia and are conducted nearly in all. 2016 Daily Nation. Rose Mambwe, another Jack compound resident, said that young people go to school while some are working and it would not be fair to seclude them for a long time attending initiation rituals. When sex is taught to you by your friends like we are doing nowadays, you end up with STDs. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Today we see young men and women misbehaving anyhow, their dressing is indecsent, they are involved in immoral activities on a daily basis and not having initiation ceremonies to teach them how they are supposed to conduct themselves in society is one of the major contributors to the bad behaviour in our young men and women today, Ms Kaluba said. room for a girl child to break away from what appears to be cultural bondage? The girls are taught how to perform sex properly because sex is an important part of life whether you like it or not. The door was closed behind me, and while I was still trying to gauge the atmosphere, the ladies started undressing, some just pulling up their shirts to reveal their bellies, while others remained with only their underwear and a chitenge cloth wrapped around their waist. Violence against Women This has been in existence in Zambia for a long time and it continues to be the social norm in many Zambian societies. Initiation ceremonies are very important not just in the villages but also in urban areas because they stand to benefit a lot of people. In the Zambian tradition of 'chinamwali', older women instruct the younger how to cook, clean and, intriguingly, how to have sex.. During the ceremony, female Alangizi, or initiators,traditionallyteach sex skills to girls as young as 12. In short, this Chisungu: A Girl's Initiation Ceremony Among the Bemba of Zambia (Routledge Classics) 1st Edition by Audrey Richards (Author) 5 ratings Paperback $5.82 - $58.95 17 Used from $1.84 5 New from $53.02 1 Collectible from $25.00 There is a newer edition of this item: Unlike elsewhere in Zambia, kalela drums are played with sticks. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. She added that initiation ceremonies worked well in the old days and could still work out well even in the modern world. Normally young girls expectations after elongating the muscles are high and they would like to experiment with men because it arouses their curiosity. Promise: When was this party formed? What kind of dance is performed for religious ceremonies? In some cases disappointed husbands even end up sending their wives back to be taught more, one of the worst possible embarrassments for the family. Most Zambians have joking relations with other tribes; the relationships go back many years. Rebecca Kaluba, a resident of Jack compound, said that there was need for parents to start supporting initiation ceremonies because they would help mould their children into responsible and cultured people. AFRICA: Women's Bodies Have Been Battlefields, Sweet 16 Marriages Cause Controversy in Malawi, COP27: A Climate Summit Following Empty Promises & Funding Failures, Solar Power Brings Water to Families in Former War Zones in El Salvador, Solidarity and Negotiations to End the Ukraine War, A New Digitalisation Effort in Bangladesh Could Change Community Health Globally, What Does it take to Build a Culture of Equality & Inclusion at the UN? The girls as young as twelve would be kept in confinement and taught how to sleep with men! As I watched the more experienced ladies dance, tilting their waists independently of the rest of their bodies, I really did not think my body was capable of doing such. The chapters on masculine and feminine initiation provide new and creative concepts and practical possibilities for each of us. HISTORICALLY, initiation ceremonies that entail the rites of passage of girls into womanhood were largely associated with marriage. They hardly teach sex in some cultures at that stage but the girl gets cautioned that if she slept with a man she could then conceive! Yoruba initiation ceremonies. It is also practised in parts of Copperbelt and Lusaka Provinces, by both men and women. reference to girls initiation ceremonies (Chinamwali ceremony among Chewa people in Eastern Province and advancement. The first minutes of this quite explicit training were pretty awkward. March. Dr Richards observed the entire chisungu or female initiation rite, an almost . girls due to early marriages, this desk study was undertaken in two regions in Zambia: Eastern and NorthWestern Provinces, to understand the role of culture and traditions in contemporary society, with particular AllAfrica is a voice of, by and about Africa - aggregating, producing and distributing 600 news and information items daily from over 100 African news organizations and our own reporters to an African and global public. RITE OF BIRTH. This event celebrates the beginning of their path from adolescence to manhood. In this book changes in gender relations during the last . attributed only to that particular group of people. Kashu. Ifa's initiation into Yoruba culture is based on knowledge. ..the way this article is titled is as if at one time the govt had banned the so called initiation ceremoniesthis is a testimony that despite churches mushrooming every corner of the street they are not adding any value to e society.these days you find a 13 yr old girl knows more than alangizi what lesson can alangizi inculcate in her.. I think many Zambian initiation ceremonies and traditions have some good value. Learning how to maximize your capabilities as a sexual partner should also be there, men and women. Kabiyeni uko banamalepe! Published 25 June 1982. Nearly all African cultures hold that the infant has come from the spirit world with important information from that world, and is bringing unique talents and gifts to . HISTORICALLY, initiation ceremonies that entail the rites of passage of girls into womanhood were largely associated with marriage. We can ensure that docile obedient requirements to men are altered so girls have self worth. Of these various ceremonies, the initiation ceremonies are of interest to this research because they represent the peak of traditional teaching for the female child and could affect negatively on the education of the girl (Rasing, 2001; Chondoka, 2001). Seriously some young ladies educated Western way are exhibiting a copy cat behaviour of Western females in poor areas. . In initiation school you are taught sex by adults, responsible adults. Starting in If, in any of the Yoruba ceremonies, means committing to a life of study that allows us to have the tools and learn the advice that If and the Orisa give us to improve our luck and overcome any tribulation. The responsible old men and women we see today are a product of initiation ceremonies, when young men and women were taught a lot of things that not only benefit them but their societies as well where they come from, she said. This doesnt mean you must start having sex with all men. The rural girls have danger too, walking to water, and meeting rapists and wild animals. concerned about increased mine accidents. Sociology. It really functions as a social and educational platform, and the way we bonded made it into a great experience. The Rite of Birth is the first of the major African initiation rites and it involves initiating the infant into the world through a ritual and naming ceremony. African stop eating their organic natural and healthy foods and eat fish and chips. What does this mean. Culture is a moral principal upon which a society stand. initiation ceremonies were held when a males and females reached puberty. They want to know how sex feels after pulling. By examining specific rituals from various theoretical viewpoints, they reveal the ultimate and contradictory values to which each society as a whole is attached. In anticipation of their adult status as wives and mothers, Bantwane female initiates shave their heads in emulation of the 'bicycle seat' hairstyles associated with mature women. Pioneering the study of women's rituals and challenging the prevailing theory that rites of passage served merely to transfer individuals from one status to . Violence against women is perpetuated by cultural orientation; initiation ceremonies and payment of bride price which makes Birth, marriage and death are typically marked by special ceremonies. Ms. Mambwe said the behaviour of young people depended on how they have been brought up in their homes and it was not right to conclude that lack of parental training was responsible for their actions. She said that initiation ceremonies play a significant role in raising responsible young men and women. Hansen (1997) [7], based his study on keeping the House in Lusaka and Maambo (2008) [10] conducted a study on the effects of the Nkolola initiation ceremony on women in southern . While there have been a number of descriptions and interpretations of boys' initiation rituals, Audrey Richards's classic study of initiation rites among the Bemba remains one of the few studies to deal in detail with the initiation of girls into adult life.Dr Richards observed the entire chisungu or female initiation rite, an almost continuous series of complex ceremonies lasting for a month. Also her remark that girls see women in submissive roles from an early age is spot on- many girls have to serve their brothers, even younger ones, and they see their mother disempowered from the time they are little girls, when they have to help pound meal, fetch water etc. When sex is taught to you by your friends like we are doing nowadays, you end up with. The Chisungu can be divided into a period of seclusion and a period of instruction. Women say that modern culture was slowly overshadowing the old ways and destroying traditional culture and values on which the Zambian nation was built. Ms Mpundu Chilufya also of Jack compound said the youth of nowadays have no sense of responsibility because they do not know how to differential between right and wrong. They begin pulling the labia at 9 to 12 years. Following the initiation ceremony, the initiates are taken to a secluded place away from their homes, where they spend at least eight days recovering. I am not saying Indians are good and better than African- but different in that respect. Yes, you should know where, what and what are things for from a biological point of view. other countries dont teach this rubbish but they have survived and done well in the global society. A small study (Kalunde, 1992) conducted among a sample of female Uni versity of Zambia students aged between 19 and 28 years revealed that 62 percent approved of the ceremony and more than 88 percent said they would adhere to the teachings given during the initiation ceremony. . I have grown because of it. The emphasis is on ethnographic data gathered in the field. traditional practices conducted for girls at puberty (e.g. Today we see young men and women misbehaving anyhow, their dressing is indecsent, they are involved in immoral activities on a daily basis and not having initiation ceremonies to teach them how they are supposed to conduct themselves in society is one of the major contributors to the bad behaviour in our young men and women today, Ms Kaluba said. AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. No to genital mutilationsjust for clarity. Not only does this type of socialization demoralize a girl child from aspiring to A revival of interest in primitive religion has been one of the While there have been a number of descriptions and interpretations of boys' initiation rituals, Audrey Richards's classic study of initiation rites among the Bemba remains one of the few studies to deal in detail with the initiation of girls into adult life. culture and traditions are powerful symbols of human identity. For example, a Bemba may throw verbal abuses to a Nyanja, but this is done in jest for the most part. Move on! Women's initiation in Zambia: learning the art of dancing in bed. Ms. Kaluba said that people were now losing touch with tradition in the name of the so-called civilisation where tradition was ignored. This was the consensus among Lusakas Jack compound residents who felt that it was time for parents to start remembering tradition and go back to the times when young men and women were taught how to be responsible and cultured in all areas of ones life. The paper concludes with two questions: 1. THERE is need to intensify female initiation ceremonies if Zambian culture is to be upheld in the face of decaying moral values in Zambia. Just silly culture.. The drum beats were so intense and loud that I could physically feel them, as the ladies all started shaking to the rhythm in sync, instructing us to copy them. Leave us to practice our culture and stay with your carbon copy European culture. After paying the entrance fee of 2,000 Zambian kwacha, less than half a dollar, I walked into the small, dark living room. She could hardly be seen hanging around with boys but stay with aunties etc to teach her good behavior. Some of my fellow students and teachers would really get into it, almost as if they were actually in the act. They need to teach women things like this in America. This is why the 'My Girl' project, teaching mothers and girls about healthy relationships is so important and is already . Thanks @ Zambian Woman who went through initiation,in fact in some Zambian cultures a girl when she reaches puberty at the first menses she is isolated and then taught how to look after herself at such particular times,how stay clean and healthy. * This article first appeared on the Street News Service, Wow! Ndagala/ Tsimba: This is an initiation camp, usually away from the village Ngaliba: Yao boys' initiation counsellor. For most traditions in Zambia, this meant when a girl came of. This was the consensus among Lusakas Jack compound residents who felt that it was time for parents to start remembering tradition and go back to the times when young men and women were taught how to be responsible and cultured in all areas of ones life. They want young men and women to be responsible so FEMALE initiation ceremonies must be revived. Keywords: Girls initiation ceremonies, culture, traditions, identity, early marriages, child rights, Zambia. I support young girls grounded in the home for 3 months after their menstruation starts ( sorry faith earned men), but that tradition was good in teaching girls how to dress, behaviour in feminine way. Copyright 2022 IPS-Inter Press Service. They take with them all their cultural heritages wherever they go. There could be many reasons for this. . Being one person, being able to give my clients personalized quality service. This book demonstrates how cultural traditions can militate against the education of women in Zambia with a focus on the Tumbuka tribe. 01:57 O2LT. Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox. No different as going to physical education and learning how to warm, flex and practice movement combinations, in order to perform better on the field, to be a better and valuable team player. Birth, marriage and death are typically marked . Oh yeah, this also reminds me of a culture where boys go to the mukanda and forcefully have the foreskins of their penises cut off ( example, Kakoma Kanganjas d*ck). It was cramped with women of different ages, from old senior teachers to recently married matrons, and of course a handful of fellow students. This is why we offer the book . An interesting element of Bemba culture is their marriage ceremonies and structure. I see more maturity in myself. should aspire to achieve the best and reach her full potential in that society. ;a Girl's Initiation Ceremony Among the Bemba of ZambiaLand, Labour and Diet in Northern Rhodesia Bettelheim presents an account of his examination of initiation rites in present-day pre-literate societies and suggests that circumcision and related rituals may be the expression of male fascination with, and jealousy of, female sex Wali ceremony for Luvale people in North-Western Province). Isnt the message in this story confusing? If you are Christians an insult to your God who supposedly made you perfect. Women said he was too backward. Psychology and the Occult Page 1/4 In various cultural communities in Zambia, initiation ceremonies for girls are conducted during adolescence. This is a school just like the Western schools you have gotten used to mwebantu. I would only add that Zambian men should also be forced to do male initiation ceremonies.you know like.sending them off in the forest without a campus and weapons. Nyau dancer. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us. While culture and traditions are designed to preserve peoples identity, She is also taught that she had then become a woman and must start conducting in a mature way and in such cases in old times even the dressing was changes at home,she could have a chitenge to wrap around her. The Former and Current Rwandan Refugees Association in Zambia has strongly condemned the killing Rwandan refugees who have sought asylum in the SADAC countries Government says it is concerned over an increased number of mining accidents reported to be on an average of about sixteen (16) fatal Bring back female initiation ceremonies, says Jack compound residents, Kanyama Residents want fee water throughout the year, PF doesnt have security Militia-President Lungu, Government to increase beneficiaries under nutrition programme, ZPPA says it has not received any complaint concerning the award of the fertiliser tender through direct bidding, LCC disburse 24 million Kwacha to various CDF projects and embarks on cleaning and spraying of ponds and drainage, THURDAY PROS HIT LIST: Chilufya and Banda Head into Knockout Stages, Zambia says EximBank to represent Chinese lenders in debt talks, Rwandan Refugees cry for protection after another one is killed in Zambia, Govt. By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Kazanga Tribal Ceremony-Kathanga Nkoya Cultural CeremonyJune 30 - July 1, 2008, July 19th, 2009. You can subscribe by visiting our subscription page. Bana chimbusas are all prostitutes. The ceremony is a preparation for a young woman to transit into adulthood so she is taught how to look after herself, her husband and her family when she gets married and of course SEX. The so called ceremonies only cause the girls to become prostitutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Bemba tribe migrated into Zambia from the Luba Kingdom (present day Democratic Republic of Congo) during the Bantu Migration, which took place between the 15th and 17th centuries. What role should culture Africans have very comprehensively beautiful cultures which the forsake themselves. Village of Mangongi.~!5kms East of Kaoma. The ceremony is conducted by the NaChibusa. Or for more information about becoming a subscriber, you can read our subscription and contribution overview, You can also freely access - without a subscription - hundreds of today's top Africa stories and thousands of recent news articles from our home page , Already a subscriber? These rites are examined in the context of socio-economic changes. She added that initiation ceremonies worked well in the old days and could still work out well even in the modern world. This means absolute lack of confidence and inferiority complex among African (men alike). Practice of If Traditional. numerous identity tags held dear by that group. Miss Angela also states that early marriages and teen pregnancies are also as a result of the fading of the ceremony which was once considered important in the Zambian society. It is common for initiates, including Bantwane boys, to cast their eyes down as a mark of deference. The specific requirements or preferences of your reviewing publisher, classroom teacher, institution or organization should be applied. We operate from Cape Town, Dakar, Abuja, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington DC. Zambia deserves better than that. For example some of the young female singers are celebrating single motherhood and that was taboo in our culture. The ceremonies are across ten months as follows: February. Moreover its not just the people in the villages that need morals and responsibility but even those that are in urban areas and that is why it is important that the initiation ceremonies for young men and women are revived, she said. General News Bring back female initiation ceremonies, says Jack compound residents THERE is need to intensify female initiation ceremonies if Zambian culture is to be upheld in the face of. She feels most Zambian men want a woman who is initiated. Dr Peter Magubane Most of the posts above wrongly presume that initiation ceremonies are about SEX and SEX only. K u k u n a I m i s h i n o/ M a l e p e. For those who do not know, it is a process whereby a girl who is in her puberty stage gently pulls her inner labia outwards (away from her body) by applying force on them using special herbs
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