Relevance of the custom of ‘Ukuthwala’ in modern Xhosa society

Abstract

The study argues that ukuthwala is an old cultural practice that had been practised in the past by Xhosa people and other tribes. Ukuthwala traditionally does not involve rape, force and underage girls. The media revealed misuse of the ukuthwala practice by men and what these men are doing is purely crime. Ukuthwala is a cultural practise that was used to abduct girls into marriage with the consent of the girl and the parents. In this case the cultural practice of ukuthwala is deemed as one of the factors preventing progress while oppressing the women and children involved as media and government have reported that ukuthwala has markedly resurged in an insidious form that is exploitative and violent (Karimakwenda,2005:340).