Umemulo ceremony held in Pimville
“I told myself since I was a child that I wanted to have Umemulo and through it all that goal kept me motivated."
A great way to begin a new month with the celebration of a young girl’s self-preservation. Last Saturday, Connie Thabede hosted Umemulo ceremony for her 21-year-old Unathi Thabede in Pimville.
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In the fast world we live in, it has become more fashionable for a girl child to not preserve their virginity. It has become more about rights but less about living a responsible life that will retain one’s dignity.
Unathi did not just want to celebrate her 21st with a cake and a tiara on her head. She wanted to be honoured with Umhlwehlwe to symbolise that she has kept herself pure.
“I told myself since I was a child that I wanted to have Umemulo and through it all that goal kept me motivated.
Although I go out and have fun with my friends, I made sure not to do anything that would compromise my virginity,” Unathi explained.
“Umemulo is a traditional ceremony that commemorates a Zulu girl’s transition into womanhood. It is typically seen as a way to reward a girl’s “good behaviour”.
If she’s still a virgin by 21, a cow is slaughtered in her honour and she gets showered with gifts and money.
“I did this ceremony to encourage other young girls to keep their virginity so that their parents can honour and celebrate their purity.
“Umemulo has become very rare and today will be a reminder to other girls to continue preserving themselves,” said Unathi’s mother, Connie Thabede.
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Onthatile Moseane, Unathi’s best friend shared her feelings towards her friend’s big day and said, “It means a lot to see my friend being honoured for her good behaviour.
“She is setting an example for all the other girls in her community. It is also nice to see that people are still upholding their culture.”
