UKUTHWASA: A Journey of Spiritual Resistance, Identity, and Culture in South Africa

Resumo

This article examines ukuthwasa, a spiritual and cultural practice of the Nguni peoples of South Africa, situating it within the historical context of colonization, the marginalization of African religiosity, and the imposition of Christianity. The research combines participant ethnography, dialogue with practitioners, and intercultural interpretation to understand the initiation process, which involves the ancestral call (ubizo), purification rituals, learning about herbs, dreams, and communal practices, resulting in the formation of traditional healers (sangomas and inyangas). The study highlights the formative and identity-building nature of ukuthwasa, emphasizing its role as a rite of passage, a means of transmitting ancestral knowledge, and a practice for strengthening social cohesion. It also addresses contemporary challenges, including tensions between tradition and modernity, legal and labor restrictions, stigmatization, and the commodification of livestock, which conditions the performance of rituals and exposes social inequalities. The analysis reveals ukuthwasa as a complex process that articulates spirituality, identity, cultural resistance, and adaptation in the face of current economic and political pressures.