In many communities in SA, specifically among the Nguni people in the Eastern Cape, the December holidays are preferred times for conducting traditional practices and rituals includingulwaluko,intonjane,ukwendisaandukuqatywa komntwana,isazimzi. This is the same for many of us who hail from my village in Dutywa in the Eastern Cape. To celebrate the successful completion of these significant traditional customs and rituals, festivities are usually held.
The greatest joy for the host family is derived from their ceremony attended by family members, relatives and fellow villagers. Historically, preparations for the traditional ceremonies involved slaughtering of animals and brewing ofumqombothi. While this is still the case in contemporary times, there is an increasing involvement of alcohol beverages such as beer, brandy and whiskey.
Arguably, the provision of alcohol beverages appears to be the key draw card for many people attending the ceremonies. Attending these ceremonies has enabled me to be a participant observer as intriguing phenomena has unfolded. In some ceremonies a new phenomenon is evolving whereiintombi ezincinci(underage adolescent girls) are increasingly being recognised as one ofamahlelowho receive a provision of alcohol.
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I have, many times, observed where this request had been acceded to and alcohol ─ referred to asumlawulo weentombi ezincinci─ was given to adolescent girls to drink. While the practice of providing alcohol to uncircumcised underage adolescent boys is not a new phenomenon in many villages, it is particularly worrying. One time I attended a traditional celebration in a village and saw an underage boy stumbling and struggling to walk. This attracted the attention of elderly people around him who were amused by this and called for his mother to witness it.
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