Abstract
<jats:p>This chapter is based on a qualitative study on the Vukhomba rite of passage among the Shangani in Mwenezi, Zimbabwe. The study examines Vukhomba's socio-cultural significance and relevance and how it intersects with human rights issues. The study employs a decolonial paradigm, recognising the importance of cultural relativism and indigenous community-centred approaches when examining cultural practices such as Vukhomba. The study reveals that Vukhomba is a multifaceted ritual that plays a critical role in the transition of the Shangani girlchild to womanhood. The study challenges dominant narratives that negatively portray Vukhomba as a practice that promotes sexual exploration by young girls, sexualisation and objectification of women, entrenches gender inequality, and reinforces toxic masculinity, thereby endorsing patriarchal hegemony.</jats:p>