Vhamusanda Vho Mavhina Mahwasane of Muledane outside Thohoyandou urged his subjects to stick to their roots and to uphold their culture.

He was speaking during the passing-out parade of a large group of initiates who were being welcomed back to the community at the local Mahwasane traditional royal offices at Muledane during the weekend.

The initiates were welcomed by parents and guardians who danced and ululated when the initiates entered the royal offices where the parents had been eagerly waiting for them since the early morning. The initiates entered the yard and headed straight to a specially designed mat where they all sat and the traditional leader, flanked by his lieutenants and Vho Maine Tshikororo, emerged from the offices to welcome the initiates.

Tshikororo introduced the initiates to Vhamusanda Vho Mahwasane, who inspected them and was seen smiling as a sign of happiness that they all came back home safe and sound.

Mahwasane said it was encouraging to notice that there were still people who are trying to put their culture before anything. He said it was important that the new generation be taught their culture at an early age in order for them to know where they come from and where they were heading. Mahwasane said a nation without culture was doomed and would never succeed in anything they do. “It is through ceremonies like these that we are able to translate our culture to the young ones and to prepare them for later life,” he said.

He commended Tshikororo for not forgetting the custom that all initiates have to be welcomed at the chief’s palace as it used to be done before. “Tshikororo is starting where his father and his forefathers have left off in the 50’s and this leaves us with great happiness,” he said.

Vho Maine Vho Tshikororo was introduced to the trade by his late father in 1965 during his initiation.  “From then onwards, I have never looked back and I can proudly say I have never had any casualty during initiation,” he said. Tshikororo, whose first initiation school was in 1996, said he was worried about deaths occurring at initiation schools. He attributed the deaths of initiates to carelessness and drunkenness on the part of traditional surgeons.