Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Boys to Men







Amasokana (boys from initiation)

According to tradition every three to four years, during the coldest winter, the Ndebele King approves the boys to prepare for manhood. This initiation referred to as Circumcision School takes place in the mountains and the boys will gain community respect once it is completed.

For four months the boys stay outside their parent’s home in an unknown rural area. Without the assistance of a nurse, there the boys are circumcised. It appears the families are aware of the risk that surrounds this procedure since it is in these early weeks that the boy’s families gather for their first thanks giving at the village’s chief, who is said to be protecting their sons. The fathers and mothers sing and dance for the chief. Unaware if their son’s have made it through these first challenging weeks, the fathers kick up dust with their grand warrior dance moves, holding spear and shield embellished with animal skin.

New research identifies that earlier circumcision reduces the risk of HIV transmission (at birth circumcision would be ideal), but it is unlikely that this will influence parents to challenge tradition which may result in a lifetime of scorn from the community. An increase in community member HIV/AIDS education has however influenced more sterile procedures performed. This year, 20 cases of death caused by infection during the mountain school were reported in a neighboring community, this number is significantly less than past years. As time advances, controversy surrounding the perpetuation of these sorts of cultural practices will increase. More recently, communities are allowing a community specialist from the clinic to join and assist the boys, although custom recommends otherwise, Health officials are strongly suggesting these alternatives.

This year’s winter months ranged from 30-50 ® Fahrenheit. Wearing animal skin on their waist, in a thatch home they have built, the boys warm to a night fire. Here daily, the boys are given lessons in life skills and learn cultural stories, dances and songs. When the boys return, the family will watch the boys perform their practiced chants and moves, in exchange for small coins. The community keeps the stories living by passing its tales verbally; the lessons have no written directions, but are systematically delivered to the boys by respected community men who come to present their specialization. Some find these teachings crucial to a young man’s development and therefore an adequate substitute for the three terms the boys are away from secondary school and living in the mountains.

Each family designates when their boy will attend Mountain school which is typically around the age of 17, but lately boys as young as 14 years have urged their parents to go away. Some people suspect that this rise in early age initiates correlates with the increase in young pregnancies. Once the boys are made men they soon tend to take on sexual relationships, sometimes in the form of rape, a sort of conclusion to their initiation.

The boy’s mothers are very concerned for their boy’s long time away in the cold. What helps the parents to cope is a weekly prayer gathering. Mothers traditionally shave their hairs and then keep their head covered for the duration of the boy’s manhood celebration. Good friends assist in the preparation for these gatherings at the home, and the parents will dress in traditional garb, the mother’s heads holding heavy traditional jewelry, ibhande, and everyone will enter the home singing and dancing and then, drink tea and eat cakes.


As the boys’ return from the mountain approaches, the males begin revealing their dances. Girls and young children playfully search out the location of their homes and go to try and sneak a look at their activity. Staying some distance away, wearing face-paint, the males perform; making sure it is difficult for those who have gathered to distinguish family.

When the men finally arrive, they have much to celebrate. They return to their family with a new name and are wearing their own set of beading and traditional outfits. First, the new men greet their home and the homes of neighbors with song and dance, later they will welcome and warn the cow they will in the afternoon slaughter. The mothers awesomely lilizela yelp in delight, communicating their happiness to once again see their family.

The elder men are found gathered with their initiation cohort reminiscing while taking traditional, sometimes pineapple flavored twala beer. The ladies are grouped separately preparing salads for the meat feast and help each other to plenty of cake and tea breaks.

In turtleneck, tights, wool coat and cap, I stroll to school. Gloves and scarf are finally optional and by lunchtime’s raised sun, I can tuck my coat into a Shoprite environmental initiative grocery bag. As I am planning for the final dry cleaning of my winter wool, I take time to reflect on this cold season’s exclusive cultural events. Cutting hair and cabbage, baking cakes in preparation and each night being serenaded by the boy’s hymns, I have gained an understanding of the beauty of this culture.