The week from Christmas to early January is when most homes with initiates are in preparation for celebrating the return of their children from the mountain, widely known as Umgidi.
Within the Boland region, more than 500 initiates from Sotho, Hlubi and Xhosa tribes embarked on this momentous tradition. In Khayamandi, over 20 households celebrated the return of their newly initiated sons, with celebrations being held throughout the area’s streets. Most celebrants were dressed in their traditional attire to honour this long-standing cultural custom.
Bishop Morale of the Stellenbosch Initiation Forum, an organisation that oversees the process locally, explained that the process went off without any glitches this season.
“The Stellenbosch Initiation Forum team dedicated themselves to ensure that initiates suffer no death or severe injuries. Strict rules were in place regarding visits to the initiates and activities taking place during the whole processes of transition from boy to manhood,” Morale related.
The forum ensures that proper traditional practices are followed during the period and the safety of initiates is high on its priority list, he added.
“Over the last 15 years, there hasn’t been any casualties reported in the Boland region. As such, there has been a growing number of initiates each year,” Morale pointed out. “Although there is a specific team tasked to look after the initiates, a group of local men also volunteered to be present to ensure smooth operations in terms of tradition and cultural customs.”
Since 2010, a greater number of parents from outside Stellenbosch chose this area for their sons’ initiation, under the leadership of Stellenbosch Initiation Forum. Morale said the forum works closely with Stellenbosch Municipality, which lends its support when necessary.
“The forum undertakes a number of initiatives to ensure the success of this very important season, such as allowing registered initiate caretakers to take part in the seasonal processes, as well as ensuring that the initiates’ medical records are known and considered, among others,” he related.
Eikestadnuus sent a query to municipal spokesperson Stuart Grobbelaar, but no response was received at the time of going to print.
The initiates’ return celebrations continue in the second week of January.