Investigating the Role of Modern Practices on Women's Rites of Passage among the Vhavenda in Vhembe District, Limpopo

Abstract

This article reflects on the effects of initiation of women in Thulamela in Vhembe district in the Limpopo Province. It analyses how the Venda community has changed in terms of practice of cultural rites. The main argument of the paper is that the infiltration of western values has significantly affected the beliefs and values of the Venda people. In this study data was collected through extensive review of priman; and secondary literature. It was triangulated by conducting in depth interviews with open-ended questions. A non-random sampling procedure was employed and a purposive sampling method used. Participants were selected based on experience and knowledge of the phenomenon. Data was collected through unstructured interviews which allowed for probing. The data was analysed using the thematic approach. The study findings show that initiation rites of passage of women still continues to be practised, but the moral value traditionally held has been altered bt; the modern dispensation including church influence, modern school education and human rights discourse. It has also been established from the data collected that initiation schools are pillars of moralihJ in our society.