DATING OUTSIDE YOUR RACE

      Queen B and AKA happy than never before

Inter-racial relationships are evident that love does not discriminate. It does not matter which race you will belong to when there’s love. Interracial relationships in South Africa are facing many challenges. People find it hard to accept interracial couples, it is often that it is these kind of relationships that are forbidden by families, friends and groups in society. Interracial relationships symbolizes unity, love and rainbow nation. The rate of interracial dating has grown rapidly over the past years.

Majority of these relationships starts in Varsities and Colleges because that is where you get to meet different kinds of people with different cultural backgrounds than yours. Studies show that people who are either married to each other in an interracial marriage or who are in an interracial relationship are more likely to stay attracted to each other than those in a same race. This is because of each other’s different features that create a certain “spark”.

Most youth think that engaging in interracial relationships is good way of getting to know people from different cultural backgrounds. We have seen many of our South African celebrities who are in inter-racial relationships the likes of Bonang Matheba and AKA, some of them are now married for example Minnie Dlamini and Quinton Jones, Linda Mtoba and Steve Meyer,Connie and Shona Ferguson and they are happy. These kinds of relationships signifies a better world.

These relationships represent a form of race-status exchange, it also assume that these relationships do not often lead to long-term commitments. But that is proven to be false by many inter-racial married couples in our country. Inter-racial relationships can help reduce the increasing rate of racism. However it’s not something that can happen overnight but they are slowly becoming a norm in South Africa.

Racism is real and it is not something that can be forfeited just like that, but with the pace that interracial relationships are going in some countries including South Africa there is still hope for a better harmonious society for all. All that is left is for members of the society to realize that interracial relationships are the same as any other types of relationships they are used to. Let’s stop discriminating and rejecting our fellow brothers and sisters but rather support them and show UNITY.

Welcoming  Ceremonies for amasokana 

  young ndebele men seated waiting to receive gifts

Initiation schools fall under cultural practices which Xhosa, Ndebele and Pedi tribes practice as part of their traditions. Young boys from the age of 12 years are being sent to the bushes with elderly men. Most people when they think about initiation schools what comes to mind is boys being circumcised , but it’s more that its where they get to know about their cultural backgrounds, principles they should hold in society as men, how to handle certain situations and the protection of their families as the head of families.

The initiation school take place every after three years. They leave their homes and go to live in the bushes for two months. Some of these practices are proven not to be safe especially the Xhosa initiation school some boys called iinkwenkwe die in the process some get extremely ill. Recently it is been said that the doctors are now getting involved in ensuring the best health care for the boys.

They are then give new names which belonged to their forefathers .They are also being taught languages that they use to communicate as men. They wear shorts made of cow skin called amabhetjha in Ndebele, they cover themselves with blankets illustrating Ndebele colours and beads.Prior to their return they gather by the Chief’s compound so that he can set them free and welcome them.They celebrate their return by singing songs that they produced for themselves and dance for us.

There have been illegal initiation schools whereby young boys are abducted to go and practice cultures that are not even theirs. This results in more deaths of these children and also parents suffer the consequences of having their children practicing cultures that are not even theirs. 

After coming back home safe, they slaughter goats for their ancestors to thank them for looking after them while they are at schools. Their parents also buy gifts to welcome them.