Rite of passage

Each year hundreds of Xhosa boys leave their homes to live in isolation and emerge four weeks later as men. Photographer Simphiwe Nkwali travelled to Cradock in the Karoo to document the initiates' journey To view the slideshow, go to: www.thetimes.co.za

The ingcibi pulls a shiny spear from his bag. He runs his index finger over the sharp blade as he prepares for action

The young men are not encouraged to drink water in large quantities, until they've healed

With each cut during the ceremony, the initiates shout 'Aah, ndiyindoda' (I am a man)

Ulwaluko (initiation) remains an important part of Xhosa culture. The elders say the practice originated some time ago when a man named Somagwaza committed adultery and villagers asked him to punish himself. He circumcised himself and retreated to the bush for six months and was healed

Traditional circumcisions take place over the June and December holidays, in order to accommodate school-going boys

After swimming naked in the river, the boys sit down to wait for the ingcibi (traditional surgeon), who is accredited by the department of health