Khosi Vho-Mphatele Victor Takalani of Mukula village escorted his younger sister, Snow White Takalani (18), to adulthood during a ceremonial gathering held at his royal kraal last Saturday.

At Mukula Village, female initiation is still regarded as a rite of passage for girls entering womanhood and last Saturday´s event, according to Khosi-Vho-Takalani, was to mark Snow White´s entry into adulthood.

According to Musanda Vho-Takalani, once a young girl has completed her week-long initiation ceremony, commonly known as U imbelwa, she is moved to another stage known as mufheletshedzo.

"Today´s main purpose of the event is to celebrate my sister´s (Snow White) new maturity, but not a forum to attract a husband, because she is still going to perform domba," he said.

The ceremonial gathering was comprised of the community and family celebration full of tradition and it was also witnessed by visitors from Germany and Switzerland. As the way the ceremony is celebrated is changing with the times, Mirror witnessed money, clothes and other valuable goods as gifts from the relatives and friends.

Khosi Takalani added that women´s initiation might be disappearing elsewhere, but as long as the lives of his people continue to revolve around the family, female initiation ceremonies at his village will remain, as they play a central role in preparing young girls to be good wives and mothers.

According to Vho-Takalani, once at the initiation school, the young girl will get a ´ritual mother´ or mme, who will prepare the young girl to be a future wife and mother.

In an exclusive interview with Mirror, ´ritual mother´ Ellen Mathoho (21) described her role as teaching the young girls beautification, singing, dancing, cooking and household management. "During this ceremony, I encouraged the young girls not to play with boys, to leave behind their childhood ways and begin to live as women with dignity," she said.

According to Snow White, the initiation ceremonies are crucial as they teach young girls respect as well as discouraging them from sexual relationships before the right time. "I wish other girls in other villages across Venda can do the same, so as to ensure that our ceremonies are not fading away," she said.

Ms Dorothy Fobbe from Germany said she found the ceremony and its significance interesting and very unique.

Another ´ritual mother,´ Sharon Mukondeleli (25), was thankful to Khosi Vho-Takalani who is making sure that their crucial ceremonies are not disappearing.