Southern Africa

Xhosa Religion

Xhosa — South Africa

Supreme Creator

uThixo

Also: uQamata

Core Beliefs
  • • Supreme creator, often considered remote
  • • Ancestor veneration (Izinyanya/Amathongo) as intermediaries
  • • Rites of passage: imbeleko (birth), ulwaluko (male initiation), intonjane (female initiation)
  • • Igqirha diviners called by ancestors
  • • Ixhwele herbalists for traditional medicine
Divination System

Trance-based divination by Igqirha

Priesthood

Igqirha/Amagqirha (diviners), Ixhwele/Amaxhwele (herbalists)