Initiates descend Hill of Snakes

The schools lasted for three weeks, considering that initiates should be at their respective schools the next Monday. Mirror witnessed the descending of 450 young boys from the Hill of Snakes, Tswime and Tshithuthuni Mountains in the Vhembe District last Friday.

Mr Petros Ramulongo, who is regarded as the father of circumcisers, said parents must support initiation schools because they go hand in hand with the culture and norms of the Venda tribe. He started circumcising young boys in early 1950’s and has never experienced a death at his bush schools. He has invested his knowledge in his sons who are now circumcising young boys well without profuse bleeding and no deaths.

According to Ramulongo, bush circumcision is in line with “Afriethics” - an African perception of looking at things. “The tribe or nation without culture is lost, and African will remain African. Copying Western culture will lead us nowhere,” he said.

“In the scripture we read about Abraham (the father of nations) circumcising his son Isaac when he was just eight days old. Even Joshua followed the ‘Covenant of Circumcision’ by circumcising the children of Israel. Some people feel they don’t need bush school, and they are throwing away their culture. Even Jesus was circumcised when he was eight days old. Now I am preserving our culture by circumcising the boys, and we care at school,” he ads.

One of the parents, Mr Tshivhangwaho Rabada, said he is happy as the boys have been circumcised and he will support bush school for the rest of his life.

Mr Mushaisano Tshirangwane, circumciser, said parents must avoid sending underage boys to the bush schools, and even sick children must not go to bush school. “I support this school because it teaches something to boys. Removing the foreskin prevent boys from contacting some diseases,” he ads.

News - Date: 21 July 2006

Godfrey Mandiwana

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