Xhosa people
The Xhosa (Xhosa: amaXhosa) are an ethnic group living in South Africa. About 22% of people in South Africa are Xhosa. The Xhosa language, called isiXhosa, is a Bantu language of the Nguni subgroup, like Zulus. The amaXhosa tribe consists of many different tribes within the culture of amaXhosa; such as amaMpondo. The tribes are of different chiefs and kings and have no single ruler due to their diverse tribes which also practice cultural customs differently from tribe to tribe. The closer tribes consists of various clan names which have been in existence for centuries. The notable ones are, amaTshawe, amaCirha, amaQwathi, amaGcina, ooRhadebe, ooJola, amaSukwini, to name a few.
| Total population | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.9 million (2001, est.) | ||||
| Regions with significant populations | ||||
| Eastern Cape: 15.4 million Western Cape: 11.1 million | ||||
| Languages | ||||
| Xhosa (many also speak Zulu, English, and/or Afrikaans) | ||||
| Religion | ||||
| African Traditional Religion, Christianity | ||||
| Related ethnic groups | ||||
| Nguni, Ndebele, swati, other Bantu people and South Africans | ||||
| person | umXhosa |
| people | amaXhosa |
| language | isiXhosa |
Xhosa People Media
Xhosa village in Eastern Cape.
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Xhosa warrior shield
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Skirmish during the Xhosa Wars
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Map of South Africa showing the primary Xhosa language speech area in green
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Xhosa woman preparing food for large groups of people
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Xhosa beer Umqombothi in Langa
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Xhosa women's outfit, made from cotton blanket fabric coloured with red ochre and decorated with glass beads, mother of pearl buttons and black felt trim
Xhosa village in Eastern Cape.
