Huts

Another key change in the initiation culture is the way in which the ibhoma, or initiate’s hut, is constructed.  These huts were traditionally constructed with grass and reed, making the ibhoma water proof, while allowing adequate ventilation.  Today, initiates who go through the ritual in an urban environment will live in a hut made of plastic rather than reed or more recently, cotton.  This is done for a number of reasons, but primarily due to cost and ease of access to the material. There is an absence of grass that is suitable for the construction of huts in these areas.  A trade-off of to using plastic is that the material has poor ventilation.

One tradition that has not changed over time is the ceremonial burning of the hut.  This symbolic action is one of the last steps that an initiate takes as he walks away from his childhood without looking back.  Thus, it is essential that the initiate’s hut be burned to the ground to complete the initiation and become a man.  This process is overseen by men with water buckets to ensure that the fire is contained.  Along with the concern of a fire, the use of plastic provides another challenge because it poses problems to the environment when burned.