Ukojiswa

The term "ukojiswa" comes from the verb "ukoja" (to roast). It is used to refer to a ceremony in the Xhosa culture, a Bantu tribe that has its largest population in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Well known figures such as Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and Miriam Makeba come from the same tribe. When an initiate (umkhwetha) finishes a full 7 days after circumcision, on the 8th day, village men under the direction of an elderly men in the family/village prepare (roast) hard corn with roasted meat for the initiate(s). The soft roasted meat (intso nyama) specifically comes from the hip/thigh of a goat/sheep and is eaten with the roasted hard corn. It is interesting to note, that the same hip/thigh has significance in the Jewish culture where Jacob had his hip socket disjointed during a wrestle with an angel.

The initiate has to eat of the corn and meat as much as he possibly can, ideally, finishing the whole corn. The origins of the use of corn and meat on the ceremony are unclear. However, these also signify wealth/abundance of supplies in the culture as their abundance would mean the tribe will never starve. The ceremony is further done to break the "fast" of the previous 7 days where initiates eat a strict diet with very little to no water at all to assist with their fast healing. After the ceremony, there is a gradual introduction of certain solid foods and liquids until initiates are fully healed. The process normally takes 3-4 weeks. After which the family can start preparing for a ceremonial celebration (umgidi) of their return home as men.