Ikwrala.

Milestone 

In traditional Xhosa society: a newly circumcised youth. A graduate of an initiation school.
Amaxhosa are a diversity of proud clans and these clans differ in their ways of practicing culture and customs. 
A graduate marched back from initiation school to their parental homes, the young men went indoors where girls of their own age helped them to smear themselves from top to bottom with a mixture of oil and red ocher. Every day, for the following year, the boy had to refresh his red ocher. He also had to walk slowly to demonstrate his humility and to signify that he was still a “small’, unimportant man. The different ways in which clothes and other accessories were worn signaled the status of the wearer and the clan he comes from, you can make a distinct differentiation in the way they dress, the smearing of the red ocher and the period they had to be ikrwala. The intensity of the color varying from clan to clan. you can see a mpondo new initiate by his dress code, and the intensity of the red ocher,including being on that milestone for a year,refer to figure 1. And you can also see the Xhosa new initiate, he throws a long scarf over one shoulder, which also serves as a cloak when it gets cold and he doesn't smear the red ocher, being on that milestone for a period of 6 months, refer to figure 2. today you see amakrwala (plural) wearing designer jerseys with a similar design of the mpodo headdress, and they also smear white ocher that is not red as that of the mpondo. being on that milestone for as long as they feel like, refer to figure 3. This a new look of an ikrwala. Early Adulthood (Ages 20-35):  Enterprise –  It takes enterprise for young adults to accomplish their many responsibilities, including finding a home and mate, establishing a family or circle of friends, and/or getting a good job.  This principle of enterprise thus serves us at any stage of life when we need to go out into the world and make our mark.
Cultural and community roles of ikrwala:
Cooking and washing up is done by these young men, and these young men are served with a dish separate from that of the senior men. Different ones from the elderly men take turns in lecturing to these young men, Gifts..are given by relatives and friends to enable them to set out in their new way of life. these roles were also used as an indicator of status, as Xhosa man had roles in their culture and communities.

figure 1. this is a mpondo graduate wearing a khaki blazer, khaki shirt with a striped hat on his head and smearing red ocher on his face.

figure 2. Xhosa graduate, throwing a long scarf over his shoulders, wearing a suit in a color of his choice. without smearing red ocher in his face.

   

figure 3. new style. modern look. ikrwala wearing a designer jersey a hat and smearing himself with white ocher.

Armstrong T. twelve stages of of life: Available: http://www.institute4learning.com/resources/articles/the-12-stages-of-life/ (accessed 29 july 2019)