ABSTRACT
In the case of boys, individual puberty ritual takes place among the Natal Nguni, the Nyasaland Ngoni, the Shangana Thonga and some of the Northern Sotho. The ritual is not ela borate or prolonged.
In the case of girls the ritual marking of physiological puberty occurs among most of the Nguni and Shangana Thonga; among the Northern Sotho it precedes the girls' initiation schools such as the byale of the Pedi or Lovedu. Among the Venda it precedes the domba, a fertility rite for boys and girls.
