The Xhosa People

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the Xhosa people, who are Black Africans who live in the Republic of South Africa, mainly in Ciskei and Transkei in the Eastern Cape areas. It looks at the history of the people and the political situation they find themselves in, particularly the suffering that was brought on them by the apartheid system. The paper also briefly looks at Nelson and Winnie Mandela and their roles among the people. Finally, the paper discusses the culture and cultural practices of the Xhosa people.

Table of Contents:
History
Political Situation
The National Suicide of the Xhosa People
Culture
Identity
Language
Customs
Clothing
Marriage
Religion
Christianity Among the Xhosa
Cultural Practices
Cooperative Labor and Beer-Drinking
Creativity in Ceramics
Beadwork
Singing
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"The Xhosa people were a historically oppressed race by the apartheid system. The inhumane-ness of the system was graphically demonstrated by the struggles and extreme miseries of its heroic leaders Nelson and Winnie Mandela and the people themselves duped into starvation in 1856. Yet they are a people with their own distinct and rich culture. The Xhosa people cherish their own identity as a race, language, customs, clothing, religion, marriage observances and cultural practices. These cultural practices reveal that identity, the experience of oppression and aspirations, which cannot and should not be ignored. Their value of work includes rewarding themselves for their labor through beer parties, a form of socialization. The wounds of oppression and misery find their way into art forms, such as ceramics, beadwork and song. A race, which produced heroes like Nelson and Winnie Mandela, and turns out excellent and deeply meaningful art works, deserves recognition and appreciation from the rest of the world. Their creative talents should be strongly encouraged in achieving their own aspirations as a distinct and valued people."

Sample of Sources Used:

• CESA. The Xhosa. People Profile. Central Eastern Southern Africa, 2008. Retrieved on May 8, 2008 from http://cesa.imb.org/peoplegroups/xhosa.htm
• Christian Action. The National Suicide of the Xhosa. Vol 2. The Christian Action Magazine, 2004.
• Cornwell, Jane. Sweet Sounds of Freedom. The (London) Independent: Independent Newspapers UK Limited, 2004
• Dase, Gcinikhaya, et al. Cultural Heritage in the Work of Two Xhosa-Speaking Ceramic Artists. African Arts: The Regents of the University of California, 2007
• McAllister, Patrick. Labor and Beer in the Transkei, South Africa. Human Organization: Society of Applied Anthropology, 2004

More papers on The Xhosa People:

• Essay # 63490 : "The Forest People" by Colin Turnbull"
• Book Review # 95941 : "The Mole People"
• Research Paper # 25313 : "Struggles within South Africa"

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