Manyano, noun

/manˈjaːnɔ//manˈjɑːnəʊ/
Forms:
Also Manyane, Umanyano, and with small initial.
Plurals:
Manyanos, or (occasionally) unchanged.
Origin:
IsiXhosaShow more IsiXhosa umanyano union, association, from manya join, unite.
In any of several Black churches, the name given to the women’s association. Also attributive.
Note:
Each Manyano has a distinctive uniform, and usually accepts only married women as members.
1941 Bantu World 8 Mar. 12Manyano presidents of various churches..attended with Manyano members in uniforms of their respective churches.
1955 W. Illsley Wagon on Fire 239‘It is the church choir,’ she cried excitedly, peering through the window. ‘They are followed by the Women’s Manyano and..Moruti Tsotetsi and..Moruti Etherton.’
1962 M. Brandel-Syrier Black Woman 15Manyano is originally a Xhosa word. It is the noun of the reciprocal form of the verb Ukumanya, which means, ‘to join’, to ‘unite’. Possibly the word was first coined amongst the Xhosa peoples of the Ciskei, which is the region of the earliest missionary concentration in South Africa...It remained for a long time the general term used by the Methodists for their Church-women’s organizations, even amongst peoples speaking other Bantu languages.
1962 M. Brandel-Syrier Black Woman 29The Manyanos are the strongholds of the older African women — the mothers and grandmothers.
1962 M. Brandel-Syrier Black Woman 80With the Stockfel, the Manyano affords by far the most popular and most frequent occasions for social outings available to urban women.
1963 Wilson & Mafeje Langa 93Far the most vigorous of the church associations are those for married women: all the larger churches have such associations (manyano) whose members hold weekly meetings for prayer and discussion.
1978 M. Mabogoane in Staffrider Vol.1 No.2, 18There might be a talk about the church. They were in the same women’s association, the Manyane, of the Methodist Church.
1978 Voice 13 Dec. 1AChurches must organise seminars on marriage and family life. Mothers unions (manyanos) should be involved.
1981 Grocott’s Mail 16 Apr. 4The Manyano (black Methodist women’s organisation) exhibit at the Commemoration Church Easter Flower Festival.
1982 M. Mzamane Children of Soweto 194The older men would come before the younger ones, the lay preachers before members of the women’s Umanyano and so on, all in strict vigil protocol.
1986 S. Sepamla Third Generation 24If she began to be nasty..I raised the spectre of the Methodist church Women’s Manyano. I’d remind her that she wore the red blouse of that honourable group.
1987 L. Dellatola in S. Afr. Panorama May 27The aims of the Women’s Manyano are ‘to control and direct the life of the home in accordance with Christian principles and example, with special reference to cleanliness, respect for elders, and for training of children for the service of God and in purity of thought, word and deed’.
1987 New Nation 10 Dec. 13Almost every domestic worker belongs to a ‘manyano’. Every Sunday and Thursday, suburban churches, parks, rivers and fields come alive with church meetings, singing and prayers...These manyanos have not only been spiritual and social homes to their members. They have sometimes provided a focus for political organisation.
1990 S. Afr. Panorama Nov.–Dec. 6During the week, meetings by the women’s movements (manyano) are held in classrooms and in private homes.
In any of several Black churches, the name given to the women’s association. Also attributive.
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19411990

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IsiXhosa
mantshingilane, nounn.maphepha, nounn.
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