intonjane, noun
- Forms:
- Also intonjani, ntonjane.
- Origin:
- IsiXhosa
An initiation rite marking the transition from girlhood to young womanhood; the initiated woman. Also attributive. See also boyale. Cf. abakwetha.
1858 J.C. Warner in J. Maclean Compendium of Kafir Laws (1906) 105Intonjane...When the time of her separation has expired, the girl..proceeds..to a..spot..where she..hides under ground the fork with which she has been accustomed to eat her food during..her separation.
1980 J. Cock Maids & Madams 284Other Xhosa customs involving women that the missionaries found offensive were the marriage ceremony..and the initiation ceremony for young girls, the intonjane.
An initiation rite marking the transition from girlhood to young womanhood; the initiated woman. Also attributive. See also boyale.
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