Male Circumcision | National Geographic

Summary

In the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, the Xhosa tribe upholds an ancient rite of passage where young boys undergo circumcision to become men. Despite modern challenges like poor hygiene and risk of infection, the tradition persists. Tondo, a young Xhosa boy, experiences the painful procedure without formal medical care. Isolated in a remote hut, he endures weeks of healing, forbidden from drinking water to promote wound healing. After a month, the community celebrates his transition to manhood with a ceremonial anointing, now eligible for marriage and adult rights, marking his place in the Xhosa nation.

Takeaways

• 📍 The Eastern Cape province of South Africa is home to the Kosa people, one of the nation's largest tribes.
• 🔍 The Kosa maintain ancient customs, including a rite of passage for boys to become men.
• 🌟 This rite involves circumcision, which is a painful and potentially dangerous process.
• 🏥 Hygiene is poor in the city, leading to a higher risk of infection during the initiation.
• 🏠 The initiates are isolated in remote huts for weeks to heal, facing the risk of infection without access to fresh food or water.
• 🚫 The tradition dictates that initiates must not drink water to prevent the wound from staying wet and not healing properly.
• 🧙‍♂️ The foreskins are buried to prevent sorcerers from using them in witchcraft.
• 🗡️ Traditional surgeons perform the circumcision without formal training, which adds to the risk.
• 🥄 After a week, initiates are allowed to drink water and consume a liquid made from corn.
• 🎉 Once healed, the initiates are celebrated and anointed with margarine as part of the centuries-old custom.
• 🏵️ The completion of the rite marks the initiates as men, eligible for marriage and adult rights within the Kosa community.

Q & A

Where does the Kosa tribe reside?

The Kosa tribe resides in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.

What is the significance of the circumcision ritual for the Kosa people?

The circumcision ritual is a rite of passage for boys to become men in the Kosa tribe.

How is the circumcision process described in the script?

The process is described as painful, dangerous, and without formal ceremony, often resulting in poor hygiene and risk of infection.

What is the role of the traditional surgeon in the Kosa tribe's circumcision ritual?

The traditional surgeon performs the circumcision without formal training, and they are also responsible for burying the foreskins to prevent witchcraft.

Why are the foreskins buried after the circumcision?

The foreskins are buried to prevent sorcerers from using them in witchcraft.

What are the post-operative restrictions faced by the initiates?

The initiates face restrictions such as being isolated in huts, not drinking water, and not eating fresh food until they are healed.

How does the lack of water affect the initiates?

The initiates are not allowed to drink water to prevent the wound from staying wet and not healing properly, which can lead to severe dehydration, sickness, or even death.

What is the significance of the white clay paint applied to the initiates?

The white clay paint marks the initiates and is worn throughout their transition period as a sign of their status.

What is the significance of the one-month period after the circumcision?

After one month, the initiates are considered healed and are allowed to drink water and visit with other initiates, signifying a step closer to manhood.

How does the community celebrate the completion of the initiation process?

The entire community gathers to celebrate the initiate's return, anointing him with a coating of fat (now margarine), and escorting him home, marking his new status and eligibility for marriage and adulthood.

What does the red clay marking signify at the end of the initiation?

The red clay marking signifies the initiate's new status as a man and his acceptance into the Kosa nation with full adult rights.