Transition to manhood still on hold for youngsters

THE journey to manhood is one of jubilation, pride and honour.

For many young men, this is the most important phase of their lives as it symbolises the birth of a new man.

But, now that step is on hold for many young boys and for some, the uncertainty is more harrowing.

Athandile Dyani, 17, was ready and excited to begin his journey to manhood, but lockdown quickly put a damper on the family’s plans for him to become a man by the end of this year.

He was meant to have gone to his ancestral home in Matatiele in the Eastern Cape in June to attend “prep school” for initiation to help get him ready for the summer school.

“We were going to learn how to build our huts, which branches to pick to build them, the rules of initiation and other things I cannot mention,” he said.

But Athandile may be left behind by his peers who, if regulations are amended to allow for initiation this coming summer, may attend initiation school.

“That hurts me because we had planned our look and everything, we planned to go in together and come back as men together.

“We have been friends since we were toddlers, now they might leave me behind a boy while they become men.”

Athandile’s mother, Noluthando Dyani, said the lockdown meant the family may have to re-assess their finances.

“The AmaHlubi clan only goes to initiation in December.

“I started saving for him and planned everything to the letter, I even joined an alcohol stockvel where I am to receive 20 bottles of brandy and gin next month, now what am I going to do with all of that alcohol?

“I saved money for him to travel to the Eastern Cape and buy his new clothes but because of lockdown and salary cuts I had to start using that money. It is likely that more of it will be used in December too which means me going back to square one in January,” said Dyani.

The Congress of Traditional Leaders of SA suspended June initiations in April. Lockdown meant thousands of young boys missed the first season but to avoid overcrowding, those who were scheduled to attend the summer school may have to sit this year out.

Cultural Affairs and Sport spokesperson Stacy McLean said: “All initiation sites have limits in terms of the number of initiates they can host per season, therefore meaning those who were meant to attend initiation school during the winter season may not necessarily be combined with those attending in December.”

Meanwhile, the Somagwaza Institute which acts as custodians of the AmaXhosa initiation tradition told Weekend Argus that work to get the practice back on form were under way.