Halala 2024!
Today is no ordinary day on your timeline. You return home as a man. This is one of our sacred and longstanding traditions as amaXhosa. I dedicate this reflection to you.
You’ve made me an official adult in the circle of life thing. I have vague memories of this tradition from my own childhood. I remember calling into radio to greet my elder cousin who was in “America”. Memories of when my own brother went are clearer than that. The visits to the mountain with food, when he returned and that awful thing they used to do by serving all the kids in one dish. Yuck!
There have been many more others. These just have distinct memories - the return, the ululating, the singing…the chants. Today, I became the women I used to watch in awe. The song that was sung as you entered the kraal has a history of its own in our family. I sang along. I remember my grandmother singing along in a circle looking quite emotional. I understand a portion of her tears when the warmth of my own rolled warmed my cheeks. Today I overheard her younger sister tell my mom it took her to her childhood. It was your great- great grandfather’s favourite. One day, we’ll have a lengthy conversation about this.
The chants and clan names escaped my lips. I was ululating. I swang my doek around too. All the while praying for you.
Today you return a man! We are so thankful to God for the gift of your life. As you take up your position, may your values and morals take centre stage. May this new phase of your life be filled with continued responsibility, a fresh perspective of accountability and truckloads of awesome experiences you have never even dreamt of.
Halala!
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