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 amaBhaca and 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, ooDlamini, ooJola, amaSukwini, to name a few.
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| 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.
Xhosa warrior shield
- Lucas,pgTHROWINGTHEASSEGAI
Skirmish during the Xhosa Wars
Map of South Africa showing the primary Xhosa language speech area in green
- Xhosa couples in South Africa, 2022.jpg
The Xhosa people have rich and deep traditional attire that reflects their cultural identity. Women adorn themselves with colorful headscarves called isikhakha, beautifully wrapped around their heads.
Xhosa woman preparing food for large groups of people
Xhosa beer Umqombothi in Langa
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