The old age circumcision ritual is one of the most practiced
and popular in the Eastern Cape. It is the ritual of admitting young boys into manhood upon reaching the age of 18 years when they are sent to the bush for several weeks into so-called circumcision schools and are taught how to become a man. However
the practice has been attracting the wrong attention, and receiving negative
coverage in recent years, as many young boys lose their lives, have their
penises amputated or land up in hospital due to diseases.
Different factors like inexperienced practitioners
(traditional nurses and surgeons), underage initiates, unhygienic conditions, diseases
and greed are some of the ills that are threatening this tradition. This has
led to government and other stakeholders formulating measures to curb this
carnage, and producing laws to regulate how the ritual is perfomed. The
Traditional Circumcision Act, is a measure that provides for qualified people
to perfom the ritual and also provides for the observation of health standards.
In the past being a cicurmcision surgeon was a
role played by old and experienced men but now times have changed, as new
methods of circumcision have been introduced.
Andile Siko is one of the
youngest traditional surgeons in the Eastern Cape who has taken upon himself to
help preserve, promote and restore the circumcision ritual back to what it was. True to the stereotype, when you meet Siko you can be forgiven for not
associating this charming, soft spoken and respectable young man as a
traditional surgeon who is gaining popularity around the Eastern Cape.
Siko adimts that his choice of work was not his
first preference, but that his job is a calling. He now cannot imagine doing
something else.
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| SIKO in his traditional attire |
"I
started this kind of work when I was 19 years old and never looked back. I now
have this responsibility of making boys to man, and I see more than 300 boys a year
taking this important journey to manhood. I do not have a formal training but
was told by ancestors in a dream to do what I do. I did not understand the
meaning of my dream, and when I told my father he advised me to do this as it
was my calling," he said.
He is concerned by the negativity the ritual has
evoked in the community as many are calling for circumcision to be done away
with, and advises parents and
traditional nurses to be more involved.
"People should take precaution, be observant
and extra cautious when working with young initiates. Nowadays most initiates
are young, as young as 14 years old, unlike during our days. We went to the
bush when we were between 18 and 20 year old, and never encountered such
problems".
He pointed out greed as one of the problems and
that parents should consult people who know the ritual well.
"Here in Mdantsane to circumcise a boy costs
about R300 and a bottle of brandy. The money and the bottle of brandy are not
a necessary payment, but a token of appreciation and helps to appease the ancestors.
A Story by Siyanda Nkoyeni
