Year after year we count bodies of young, innocent initiates in South Africa dying in large numbers provoking widespread condemnation and calls to do away with the ritual which ushers boys into the world of responsible manhood.

It is an African tradition that goes back to time immemorial. It is time that trade union leaders moved beyond mere sloganeering to say with one voice – “Enough is enough!” It will do no-one any good if people sweep this issue under the carpet because we are sympathetic to a particular gender.

What is most frightening since the passing of these boys is that our leadership is not saying much about this.

Could it be that our leaders have been brainwashed? Could it be that the whole western world has opposed our initiation and circumcision practice? Could it be that our leaders are playing political games? Do they expect life to go on as if nothing ghastly has happened?

The fact is that these boys are our kids! Just like any parent we would like to see our leadership making sure that the culprits are dealt with accordingly.

We expect the media and the leadership to show that this custom of circumcision has been denigrated by ignorant, arrogant many-mongers. It has been reduced to an exercise of merely cutting the foreskin and yet that is a minor aspect of the bigger picture.

But this is how the process should happen. In the African tradition, when an ingcibi (surgeon) is to operate on a boy, he is strictly required to observe rules of cleanliness, to abstain from physical wants such as sex to honour the rite.

The woman who prepared the food for the boy (umkhwetha) is obliged to do the same.

When the boy has been circumcised, he is required not to drink any type of water except that mixed with ash. He is not allowed to go anywhere near fire for the first seven days.

That is regarded as most important in the healing process. He is also taught a specific language of the forest whose terminology is loaded with respect for the mothers and fathers.

They are instructed to run away or hide if an old woman crosses their path as a sign of respect.

The ikhangatha (the nurse) has to be knowledgeable. On approaching the umkhwetha he must know what type of plant is required to deal with the wound.

After three weeks to a month, the umkhwetha comes home. Umqombothi, feasts and dancing eulogies and cultural revival is involved in the process.

The young man is taught the values of manhood.Vuyisile ka Fundakubi

Sources

Numsa News No 5 2009