Young boys return as men in Vhembe
Boys from villages around Vhangani safely completed initiation and were handed over to families in a proud cultural ceremony.
LIMPOPO – Young boys from villages including Vhangani, Masia, Vyeboom, Mashau, Phaweni, Nwamatatani, Majosi, Nkuzana, Madobi and Mission Kurhuleni Mashau have successfully completed their initiation and were officially handed over to their families at the Vhangani royal kraal on Saturday.
The ceremony followed the closure of the initiation school on Friday to allow school-going boys to return in time for the reopening of schools this week.
All initiates were reported healthy and ready for their return to class.
Vhomakhadzi Vho-Rosinah Muavha, who spent the entire initiation period in the bush with the boys, addressed the crowd during the handover ceremony. She thanked parents for their trust and praised Vho-Maine Takalani Matumba, the school owner, for running an incident-free and well-organised school.
“The boys left as children and returned as men,” she said, urging communities to continue preserving their cultural practices.
Matumba, a traditional doctor and long-time surgeon, credited the success of the school to cooperation between traditional leaders, government and ancestral guidance.
“Since I began, no initiate has gone missing or died,” he said.
He also thanked the Department of Health for its support and called for more government visits to traditional schools to show respect for indigenous practices.
Among the graduates was 43-year-old Leon Nukeri of Vyeboom, who expressed deep gratitude: “I feel good and I’m happy everyone is safe”.
The youngest initiate, the six-year-old Nhlamulo Mulaudzi of Nwamatatani said he was proud to have completed the programme: “I asked to go because I wanted to be like my father and forefathers. I’m proud I did”.
The safe and successful completion of the initiation was welcomed, especially as Limpopo reported two deaths at other schools this season.
