Amaxaba clan celebrates heritage
As the country pulled down the curtain on Heritage Month in September, members of the Amaxaba clan held a gathering at Endlovini informal settlement on Saturday September 28.
An Amaxaba group was established more than 10 years ago with the aim of bringing unity and a sense of belonging among those who originate from this clan.
The group welcomes anyone from the clan, no matter where they come from.
One of the key aims of the group was to create a platform for them to learn in depth how the Amaxaba people perform their cultural rituals, traditional customs and differentiate themselves from others.
Amaxaba group principal member, Thandile Nzamela, said one of the motivating factors for them to start group was that sometimes one comes from the Eastern Cape looking for a job and does not even have a relative and feels lonely and outcast.
However, he said through the establishment they hope to create a sense of family and belonging.
He said when they started they had about 10 people and currently have about 85 members while others have relocated back to the Eastern Cape.
He said there is no joining or monthly fees because this is not a burial society but a family group that aims to bring family members together.
“When one of us is having a graduation ceremony, we're there to show support. When one of us is having a burial or celebration ceremony in the Eastern Cape, we are there because we are a family.
“We are there for each other in good and bad times and we want to ensure that our children know each other so that they can treat each other as brothers and sisters.
“We are also going to develop a programme for our youth so that we could transfer skills and knowledge to them.
“We want to safeguard our roots as Amaxaba so that it does not get diluted.
“We are one Amaxaba and we must not be separated by our surnames but what should keep us together is the fact that we share a bloodline of Amaxaba,”he said.
Mr Nzamela said they have received praise from their parents for the initiative.
Amaxaba group secretary, Masibulele Nzamela, said they have faced many challenges in keeping the group together but keep their main aims in mind.
He said what makes the group more excited is the fact that the majority of the members were young people and that signals that the group has a strong future ahead.
He said they meet quarterly where they discuss pressing matters related to their group.
