2015 Heritage Theme: Indigenous knowledge

       The traditional way of male circumcision
versus the modern way

Heritage Month which is celebrated during September, has inspired young people to share their indigenous knowledge, as is the theme this year.  The issue of male circumcision and the way in which it is conducted both traditionally and in the modern clinical way, became a burning subject that proved worthy to be reflected upon.


Tebello Kekana, 21, says that she strongly supports and respects male circumcision which is performed in initiation schools according to the Xhosa tradition.  Kekana adds that initiation schools are the pride of  the Xhosa culture, and when a man has gone to an initiation school they come out strong, humble and mature in life. 

"Personally, I feel going to the mountains is best for male circumcision because it makes you a real man"

Tebello Kekana, 21


"But currently my parents are in disagreement of whether my brother should go to initiation school or not.  My mother is Sotho and my father is Xhosa, i think my mother disagrees because she is modernized and she has safety concerns because it has been shown on the news that people die in initiation schools."

Furthermore Kekana believes that even the food that initiates are fed in initiation schools has an influence in shaping manhood, because of the manner in which it is prepared.

WATCH FULL INTERVIEW BELOW


Kekana believes that there is a big difference between a man who has been circumcised in the mountain and the one who has been circumcised in the hospital.  She says her brother is fragile and she believes that by going to the mountain he will come out a real man.  However, in 2015 alone the Department of Health in Limpopo has investigated 22 deaths of initiates from illegal initiation schools.  Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape as well have recorded several deaths which have occurred in initiation schools in 2013-2014.

Tebello Kekana, 21

On the other hand, Khumbulani Mazibuko, 22, says he does not have anything against circumcision but he doesn't support initiation schools due to safety reasons.

"I don't trust initiation schools, I prefer circumcising at the hospital because it is safer and secure"

Khumbulani Mazibuko, 22


Mazibuko adds that circumcision is important as it prevents many sexually transmitted diseases.  However he is against initiation schools as he believes they are unsafe and are not practiced in his Zulu culture.

WATCH FULL INTERVIEW BELOW

Khumbulani Mazibuko, 22

"Many initiation schools nowadays are not secure nor well resourced to execute circumcision, hence I prefer the hospital because you get to receive medication after the process is done.  I have circumcision in hospital because in my culture we don't go to the mountain, says Mazibuko."

As South Africa celebrates the 2015 Heritage Month under the theme "Our indigenous knowledge, our heritage: Towards the identification, promotion and preservation of South African's living heritage" the issue of male circumcision and initiation has not stopped being a talking point for the youth.