A Young Circumcision Surgeon's Quest To Preserve Tradition

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.

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