Izikhothane (or Skhothane or Ukukhothana) refers to South African showmanship or dance battles in which individuals or groups of individuals compete against each other in front of large crowds to determine which party is wealthier. These 'battles' are performed using material items such as money, mobile phones, clothes, and/or alcohol. In most instances a battle is won by the intentional destruction or wastage of one's own expensive items to demonstrate the lack of concern for such material possessions due to the ability to afford more of the same. A competitor's chances of victory are improved by having items that are more expensive than those of their opponent.
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Origin
The word Izikhothane is a slang word that originates from the Zulu word "Osikhotheni". Osikhotheni means people who live in the bushes/bundus, and that is derived from the Zulu word "Isikhotha" that means "bush". The singular form of this Zulu word is called "usikhotheni". This term is township slang for hustlers who live a lavish life style (nice expensive clothes, nice cars, etc) without having a job or owning a business. You can call them modernised beggars who live by using illegal ways to satisfy their hunger for their lavish life styles.
Izikhothane originated in the early 2000s in the South African townships of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan previously known as the Eastrand. The act remained largely unnoticed until it gained popularity in 2011 and 2012. A similar trend called uSwenka existed in South Africa in the 1950s where migrant workers and labourers dressed themselves in their finest suits and shoes to compete in contests. The winner of these contests would win money, household necessities or livestock, which they would send back home to their families.
Practices
The Izikhothane are usually from impoverished backgrounds and spend beyond their financial means to purchase high-end designer apparel, prestige branded alcohol, luxury food items, and expensive accessories including jewellery and mobile phones. These items are then destroyed or disposed of in an attempt to create a perception of opulence and thereby gain social status.
The ability to afford expensive clothing is fundamental to Izikhothane and one's reputation is determined by this expression. The Izikhothane sometimes demonstrate this by buying two pairs of the same high-end brand of shoe in different colours and then wearing one shoe of each colour to indicate that two pairs of the same expensive shoe can be afforded. Another tactic in battle is to wear expensive clothing in layers and then destroy one layer at a time thereby destroying more clothes than the opponent. Price tags are sometimes retained on the clothing so that competitors can flaunt the cost of their items.
Why
The aim of the dance battle is to show more abundance than your opponents as this determines the winner of the battle. There is no tangible reward for winning an Izikhothane battle, just the recognition and affection from the audience that witnesses the battle.
Where
Izikhothane battles occur predominantly across South Africa's townships. The act or battle is performed in a public place such as a park or any open space so that large crowds may gather to witness the event.
Who
Competitors are predominantly black males aged between 12 and 25 years, who are from low income households. The popularity of Izikhothane has also started to attract female youth. Izikhothane groups compete against each other in inter- or intra-township battles. A group's identity and reputation is upheld by its members' wasteful extravagance.
How
To perform in an Izikhothane battle, a contestant must purchase expensive items such as clothing, shoes, alcohol and exorbitant accessories. Loud, colourful, branded items are a necessity. The more a competitor's gear costs, the more dominant they are able to be in the battle. Once at the battle venue, the contestant calls out an opponent. Thereafter these two competitors dance around, showing off their expensive material items to each other and to the crowd. To win the battle, a contestant may be required to destroy their items such as tearing up cash notes, burning or tearing up their designer branded clothing, pouring out expensive alcohol onto the ground or submerging their mobile phones in water. The champions are decided by the crowd whereby the crowd cheers for the Izikhothane that impressed them the most with their abundance of wealth as depicted by the destruction of their high-value items.
Culture
The youth associated with Izikhothane are perceived to have a lack of future planning, a disregard for financial responsibility, a high degree of extremism and materialism, as well as a strong yearning for fame and recognition. The Izikhothane culture is considered to be born from the desire to escape the reality of poverty and discrimination.