Komba : girls' initiation rite and inculturation among the VaRemba of Zimbabwe

Abstract

This article seeks to explore the Komba traditional rites practised by the VaRemba people of the Shona-Karanga ethnic group in Zimbabwe. The “Komba rite” is intended to move a mature girl (mhandra) from the state of girlhood to that of womanhood. It is also meant to initiate vashenji (uncircumcised non-VaRemba) women who marry VaRemba men into their female traditions and customs. While Christianity despised this rite as “paganism” and not acceptable to its faith, the VaRemba Christians practise it in good faith. This article will therefore explore the relationship of the Komba ritual to some Catholic Church sacraments. It will attempt to address the problem of whether the rite can be accommodated into Catholic sacraments such as baptism, confirmation and matrimony, and argues for the possible inculturation of the Komba rite.