Umhlonyane is a traditional ceremony done by the Zulu people for girls when the girl reaches the womanhood stage. The head of the family it might be an uncle, father of the family slaughter a goat for this ceremony.

A week before the ceremony, the girl is kept in a separate room away from other people, where she will stay inside and comes out on the day of the ceremony. By the time she is in that room the elder women visit the girl to give advice and guidance on how to behave as a teenager .

Before the day of a ceremony, the girl's friends (same age) come to stay with her until the next day. All the girls apply ‘white soil’ all over their bodies. In the morning they go to the river to wash their bodies. On their way back to the homestead they sing traditional songs that are relevant with the ceremony.