Abombhi - Miners.

The question about where suits in our culture come from has been a question asked many times. The reality is that it's still a fairly new concept because when our first kings became men, there weren't suits to display that they were but their acts and works within their communities were enough. Our forefathers used to leave home in search of work in mining areas such as Carltonville and would return wearing suits that represented being able to stand on their on feet and provide for their families.

Umbuzo wokuba umgaxelo usukaphi kwi siko lethu, ngu mbuzo ebekudala ubuzwa. Yinto entsha le kuba oobawo be bengena zinto ezithile ukubonisa isidima sokuba bangamadoda, kodwa ngezinto zabo ezilallini umntu ebekwazi ukungqina ubudoda bakhe. oobawo bebesuka ekhayeni bekhangela umsebenzi kwii ndawo zokombha ezifana nase Carltonville, babuye begaxele. Lonto ibibonisa ukwazi ukuzimela noku nakakela usapho lwakho. 

Photographer: Siphesihle Mmusane.

Kwa Xhosa.

In the Transkei, this is possibly the most important uniform that you can wear and show off with because it represents the willingness to work, not only for yourself and your family but other families in the village and that being a man of work is the most important element you can possess.

eTranskei ezimphahla zibalulekile ngaphezu kwazo zonke ezinye imphahla ongazi nxiba kuba ibonisa ukuvuyela umsebenzi, hai nje kwi siqu sakho naku sapho lwakho kodwa na kwa bantu be lalli yakho kuba ukuba yi Ndoda ngezenze yinto onga zingca ngayo ngaphezulu nokuba yi Ndoda yase hlathini.

DiBlaas - New Men.

People come up to us an ask us what certain things mean and why we've chosen to do what we do and it's sometimes hard to respond without putting the ancient secrets of our culture at risk. The truth of the matter is that as we've embarked on this journey, we're learning a lot about ourselves, our culture and art which was essentially the what we wanted but the overwhelming support from Xhosa people around the country has been amazing. We hope that as you view our page that you too, no matter what culture, religion or race, will be inspired to tell the story of your people in a way that you know best.

Abantu abaninzi bayasi buza ukuba siyenzela ntoni lento kwaye kutheni sikhethe ukubonisa usiko lethu nga le ndlela. Kunzima ukuphendula ngamanye amaxesha kuba asifuni ukufaka izifombo zesiko engcuphekweni. Inyaniso ithi njekuba sihamba kule dlela, sifunda nzulu ngathi singabantu, isiko lethu ne zinto ezinhle ngathi sonke; kwaye ibi yilonto ebesiyifuna ekuqaleni kodwa ukuxhasa kwenu kuyimangaliso enkulu. Siyathemba njengokuba ujonge lento siyenzayo, nawe uyavakalelwa kwaye uyazingca ukuze nawe ukwazi ukqgithisela amava ngesiko lakho.

Amakrwala - New men.

Photography: Heritage of Artistry.

Ndingum' Xhosa - I am Xhosa.

Indoda ngu mafung' akajiki, kodwa lonto ayithethi ubu zesi libale ukuba singo bani.

A man never looks back but that doesn't mean that he must forget.