The Zulu culture. My culture is unique and different from all the other cultures that exists around. There things that make the culture that makes it different. We perform certain indigenous exercises, rituals and have our own beliefs that distinguish us from the other cultures. Firstly I will talk about the practice of determining the DNA of a child that is said to belong to a certain family. What the elders do is to place a newborn baby in the kraal with cows. If the child belongs to the family the cows won't try to stumble on the baby but if the child is not theirs the cows will want to step on the child. The second thing is preparing the girl child for marriage as soon as 16 years and the conservation of their virginity. There is a frequent checking of virginity amongst teenagers to ensure that they are still virgins. Until a certain age where one decides to stop a ritual called 'Umhlonyana' confirms that one has opted out from the virginity checking. On a certain day 'Umkhosi Womhlanga', all the virgin girls will come together and a chief of that place will choose a future wife from the girls. This ritual is very important to our culture. In a village all the important decisions and mediation are done by the chief and his counsil. 

I am woken up by this endless ringing of my alarm that goes on and on until I wake up. The birds outside and the sound of different souls going up and down, some getting in their vehicles to start a beautiful morning. As I look at the clock that has now gone silent I come to realise that I also need to start my day. I start it off with this hot shower that washes away the tiredness and leaves me relaxed and fresh.  After that I open my cupboard and I'm welcome by this fresh smell of muffins and I can't help but take a bite and prepare to go to school. I call this Rites of Separation. 

I have to stand in this long line with the sun burning my soft and smooth skin. As I wait with my fellow school mates as we about to embark on this little journey to Campus. Finally I'll be able to escape the heat and get to relax my legs that have waited for so long. I get to school and I students are going up and down, north to south , rushing to fill the lecture hall seats and prepare for the lesson. I also rush to class and I enter this hall filled with different faces and personality that are all here for one thing education. I can say that this is my liminal phase of my day because as we all meet there , we are equal and hold no status besides being students. The days goes on and on and finally the time has come to go back to the place we call a home away from home.

Nothing feels better than being on my way back home from a long day. This feeling is the best knowing that I will be welcomed by the warm and soft cuddles of my sleepers and the softness of the mattress to rest my tired body. The smell of home cooked food that welcomes me as I enter my unit . This has to be my Rite of Incorporation because I return to my normal everyday life.

My blog is based on the word 'Stereotyping' and the impact it has on different societies. Stereotyping is basically making judgements about individual or societies creating a barrier in a way that people have limited interactions.

As people we have to end this thing of creating difference amongst ourselves. We are from different societies, and it is often where certain societies get to make judgements about others. Chimamanda A (2009) talks about how a single story is the root cause of stereotyping. She talks about his friend was shocked to see her using an iron and that she knows how to speak English. I have to say that some societies still regard Africa as this poor, illiterate and unskilled continent where no one can speak English or be technologically advanced. This now comes to introduce Othering amongst societies and amongst individuals from different locations of the world.

As I conclude, people or societies need to learn and understand each other. We have to stop stereotyping and clear this intrue image we have on certain societies. I for one used to think that America is the best place in terms of wealth and success. Stereotyping need to come to an end and societies must learn and understand each other.