The streets of Gugulethu were alive with music, dance, whistles and ululation as more than 500 young women celebrated, in accordance with Xhosa tradition, their transition into womanhood and eligibility, without presenting themselves as readily available to members of the opposite sex.
Organised by Ludonga Foundation, a Gugulethu-based non-profit working with girls, the two-day event, held at JL Zwane Centre in Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August, stressed the importance of grooming girls to be better people and to instil discipline in them.
Founder Khanyisa Mthini described Ludonga as a safe space for young women to socialise and share their challenges and experiences.
She started it in 2019 to educate girls about their culture, which includes encouraging chastity until marriage.
The foundation has branches in various communities, including Langa, Mfuleni, Nyanga East, Saldanha, Ceres, Paarl and Strand. In Gugulethu it has more than 30 girls on board.
Mthini said Ludonga hosts similar events in communities across Cape Town and beyond, particularly in areas where Xhosa culture continues to have a strong influence. During these events, young girls walk the streets dressed in traditional attire, showcasing their cultural identity as young women and promoting the values associated with Xhosa traditions.
Making history in Gugulethu
“We are making history by establishing such a foundation in Gugulethu,” Mthini said. “I am grateful to Gugulethu parents for allowing their children to join the foundation. We will conduct monthly checks just to see whether they still embody the fundamental values of Xhosa culture.
She said the event also aimed to promote organisations such as Ludonga, which uphold Xhosa traditions and culture, particularly in urban township communities, while encouraging more young women to join the foundation.
Mthini encouraged parents to enrol their daughters in the programme. She stressed it helps to eliminate the scourge of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted illnesses (STIs). She said, as part of instilling discipline, Ludonga also educates the girls about risks associated with certain behaviours.
“We are six examiners. Each child joins voluntarily. When the child comes to join she does so accompanied by her mother or a guardian, starting from age 8.”
Mthini described Ludonga’s work as a calling, saying she had never imagined that she would one day pursue such work. She said it all began when one of the girls in Langa asked her to look after her.
From Langa to a movement
“The whole thing started in 2019 in Langa. I was invited to a Icamagu Heritage and Cultural Event at Guga Sthebe to speak. Afterwards girls came up to me to take pictures with me. A week later one of them came to my house in Langa and asked me to be her guardian. She said she wanted me to examine her, which I also agreed to.”
According to Mthini, the girl came back later with 19 friends, all with a similar request.
She told City Vision that virginity testing was more widespread in the Eastern Cape, but that she initially had no idea how to conduct it. She first met with parents to explain the significant responsibility their children had asked her to take on, and they agreed to it. Mthini then had to conduct research, read books and consult people with relevant knowledge.
She said to consolidate the cultural aspects the foundation encouraged young girls to refrain from diets such as fries, fatty foods, milkshakes and bubble gum.
One young woman, Sibahle Mtati (20), a member of the foundation, said she had joined the group last year, describing the experience as helpful and educational.
“I like the fact that we are encouraged to stay pure. We are also educated on how to carry ourselves.”
To know more about the Ludonga Foundation and its aims and objectives, and to interest your daughter in joining contact Mthini on 078 164 1283.
ALSO READ: Township tourism in the spotlight as Cape Town Tourism Month launches in Langa
