In the IsiXhosa culture, the passage to manhood is through the traditional process of Ulwaluko/Ukoluka (initiation) for young boys. The duties associated with the rites of this passage are divided between men and women in families, with men entrusted with governing the whole process from start to end while women are left out. While the characteristics of these traditional duties have existed for as long as time can tell, at what cost should women be kept out of the intricacies of this cloaked journey?

Whether in the city or the homelands, the streets in December are no short of Imigidi (homecoming ceremonies). When umkhwetha (a boy) returns from initiation school, a ceremony called umgidi (home-coming) is held to celebrate. He is then referred to as Irwala (graduate from initiation school). Families gather to indulge in traditional food and drinks while the returned young man is wished well and offered gifts for the start of his new life. Umgidi is the celebration of ulwaluko.

The procedure rests on transforming boys into responsible men through elaborative teachings. It is not just the referral to circumcision but an entire ritual process that brings everything together.

Including women in the proceedings of ulwaluko is not permitted, nor is it something that gets spoken of. One of the ways this is controlled is through the restriction on men familiar with the custom from revealing information to outsiders, including women and adolescents who have yet to go to initiation school to maintain the culture but also to keep it entirely concealed.

If women are intentionally supposed to be unaware of the proceedings, then what are they doing? From observation and conversation, women are assigned to cook and prepare umqombothi (Traditional beer).

I know of Irwala by the name of Siya (18), who has just left initiation school. He had entered happily as ever to transform himself, but the conditions surrounding his departure did not happen in the way he had anticipated. Just before umgidi, he ran away because of how the men in charge had dealt with an issue he could not name at his initiation school in the Eastern Cape. “I didn’t want to, but I ran away, and they found me”, “I was so scared, but I didn’t know what to do. Luckily, we found common ground”.

This is the part that gets me; during that time, his mother had no clue why things were happening the way they were, solely because she was a woman. Nothing could be said because of the cultural barriers that prohibit her from knowing anything. It’s giving, “sing, cook and dance while we hide from you that something has gone completely wrong, but don’t worry because all you need to do is just that and not know anything”. The thought makes me uncomfortable.

In the BMC public health journal, it was recorded that between 2019 and 1995, there were 1133 deaths recorded in the Eastern Cape from the complications of circumcisions that had gone wrong – excessive bleeding and excessive skin removal from a lack of training. While this news was made known to the public afterwards, I have to wonder whether the families of initiates were just suddenly met with news of death at their doorsteps.

I have the utmost respect and admiration for the IsiXhosa culture, born from a Tswana father and Xhosa mom. I have brothers who will soon have the option of going to initiation school once they are of age. In general, I feel like culture plays a massive role in the positive culmination and progression of certain aspects of society; however, with these traditional roles assigned to women and decision-making for men, what kind of thinking includes one from a possibly harmful occurrence involving one’s loved one? What are the limits, and in which instances do those limits get considered? We need to think about it.

The constitution of culture needs leeway regarding women, one that is progressive and does not only serve men.

Share your thoughts: Are the traditional roles that women are expected to play in Ulwaluko ethical and fair? As a woman, what do you do during the process?

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