'People’s lives matter more than a custom': Would-be initiates want to cut to the ritual chase

Thousands of boys desperate to undergo the traditional rites of passage marking entry into manhood are praying the lockdown ban on initiations will be lifted in time for the summer season.

Even if it is, the age-old ritual for the transition to manhood faces drastic changes to eliminate the sharing of food and drink in an attempt to minimise the risk of Covid-19 transmission.

The traditions of drinking traditional beer from a communal calabash and eating meat from a shared platter, which signify oneness, respect and consideration for others, are set to make way for individual cups and disposable plates.

“People’s lives matter more than a custom,” said Mziwethemba Gazi, an Eastern Cape headman from Ngqamakhwe. He has warned villagers who attend traditional ceremonies not to share utensils.

Would-be initiates were disappointed that President Cyril Ramaphosa made no mention of initiation schools in his address this week, and presidency spokesperson Tyrone Seale said there was no target date for a decision on allowing the schools to reopen.

“The National Coronavirus Command Council will be the one that will take a decision after it has received all the submissions and proposals from other roleplayers, including traditional leaders and … the department of co-operative governance and traditional affairs [Cogta],” he said.

Cogta spokesperson Lungi Mtshali did not respond to queries, but the Congress of Traditional Leaders of SA has said it will reopen initiation schools next month.

Sivuyile Mangxamba, who is preparing to take his son for initiation, said: “We are holding our breath. All the boy wants is to undergo this rite of passage to manhood and follow in the footsteps of those who have gone before him, and move on to the next chapter of his life.”

Mangxamba said people who had previously argued against serving umgqombothi (traditional beer) in a communal calabash had risked being labelled as “Westernised” in his village near Port St Johns.

“We have to change how we do things,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to solve the issue of drinking from one beer bucket. One will have to be brave and declare that people must bring enamel mugs and drink from them.”

Mamnkeli Ngam, spokesperson for the provincial department of traditional affairs in the Eastern Cape, said the province was ready to start the initiation season once the government gave the go-ahead.

All boys would be screened for Covid-19 and hand sanitising and masks would be compulsory, he said.