The South African Civil Society Information Service

Al Jazeera on Xhosa Circumcision Custom: 'Ndiyindoda - I am a man'

7 Jan 2013

There are 10 million Xhosa people in South Africa amongst whom many tribal customs remain strong. Every year thousands of teenage boys from the Xhosa tribe undergo a ritual circumcision, which according to ancient custom, will make them men. But there are growing concerns about circumcision ceremonies. In the past 10 years, more than 500 boys have lost their lives, while hundreds more have been mutilated. Despite its dangers, the practice shows no sign of abating due to peer and family pressure. Al Jazeera's People and Power dispatches a team of filmmakers to document the stories of three people who have participated in the ritual, including a grieving mother who lost her son.

© Al Jazeera

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You can find this page online at http://sacsis.org.za/site/article/1526.