Peer reviewedThis 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.Research Institute for Theology and Religio
