A great grandson of Nelson Mandela wishes Madiba had seen his graduation from initiation school. “I wish he could have been here,” said Mayibuye Mandela, 21, during his umgidi in Mvezo on Saturday.
Mayibuye has lived in Mvezo with his uncle Nkosi Mandla Mandela since 2011.
“I want to be like them – Madiba and Mandla – and embrace our cultural practices,” said Mayibuye.
Mayibuye is the first of the Mandela’s great grandsons to undergo the rite in Mvezo.
Mandla and his brother Ndaba, and their aunt Zinzi’s sons Gaddafi and Bambatha, all underwent the rite in Qunu.
The sleepy, remote Mvezo village was abuzz over the weekend with women ululating and young men dancing and showing off their stick fighting skills as traditional music reverberated over Mbhashe River.
Mandla, the chief of the area, was all smiles, welcoming guests, with some coming to present Mayibuye with sheep and others gifts.
Among those were Mandla’s neighbouring traditional leader, Nkosi Xhanti Sigcawu of Mbhashe Traditional Council and Madiba’s former poet Zolani Mkiva.
The Mandela Science School and Technology Grade 11 pupil has now received a new name, Melisizwe, mostly to be used as his salutation.
“As the family we expect him to be able to stand for our nation, and preserve and protect the traditions and cultures as practised by our forefathers,” said Mandla.
“We are privileged and honoured as the family that we still in these days find men that are able to do this ritual to perfection. It’s therefore a day that we celebrate and ululate to ensure that this tradition is preserved and protected for future generation to come,” he said.
In the book Long Walk to Freedom, Mandela said: “For the Xhosa people, circumcision represents the formal incorporation of males into society. It is not just a surgical procedure, but a lengthy and elaborate ritual in preparation for manhood. In my tradition, an uncircumcised male cannot be heir to his father’s wealth, cannot marry or officiate in tribal rituals. An uncircumcised Xhosa man is a contradiction in terms, for he is not considered a man at all, but a boy. Circumcision is a trial of bravery and stoicism; no anaesthetic is used; a man must suffer in silence.”
In 1934, at the age of 16, Mandela was among a group of 26 boys who underwent initiation and circumcision ritual at Thyalarha near Mthatha.
Mayibuye was just excited about his initiation, saying the month-long stay at the mountains was blissful, a sacred time, and he had enjoyed every moment of it. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Madiba’s great grandson becomes man
Mayibuye has lived in Mvezo with his uncle Nkosi Mandla Mandela since 2011.
“I want to be like them – Madiba and Mandla – and embrace our cultural practices,” said Mayibuye.
Mayibuye is the first of the Mandela’s great grandsons to undergo the rite in Mvezo.
Mandla and his brother Ndaba, and their aunt Zinzi’s sons Gaddafi and Bambatha, all underwent the rite in Qunu.
The sleepy, remote Mvezo village was abuzz over the weekend with women ululating and young men dancing and showing off their stick fighting skills as traditional music reverberated over Mbhashe River.
Mandla, the chief of the area, was all smiles, welcoming guests, with some coming to present Mayibuye with sheep and others gifts.
Among those were Mandla’s neighbouring traditional leader, Nkosi Xhanti Sigcawu of Mbhashe Traditional Council and Madiba’s former poet Zolani Mkiva.
The Mandela Science School and Technology Grade 11 pupil has now received a new name, Melisizwe, mostly to be used as his salutation.
“As the family we expect him to be able to stand for our nation, and preserve and protect the traditions and cultures as practised by our forefathers,” said Mandla.
“We are privileged and honoured as the family that we still in these days find men that are able to do this ritual to perfection. It’s therefore a day that we celebrate and ululate to ensure that this tradition is preserved and protected for future generation to come,” he said.
In the book Long Walk to Freedom, Mandela said: “For the Xhosa people, circumcision represents the formal incorporation of males into society. It is not just a surgical procedure, but a lengthy and elaborate ritual in preparation for manhood. In my tradition, an uncircumcised male cannot be heir to his father’s wealth, cannot marry or officiate in tribal rituals. An uncircumcised Xhosa man is a contradiction in terms, for he is not considered a man at all, but a boy. Circumcision is a trial of bravery and stoicism; no anaesthetic is used; a man must suffer in silence.”
In 1934, at the age of 16, Mandela was among a group of 26 boys who underwent initiation and circumcision ritual at Thyalarha near Mthatha.
Mayibuye was just excited about his initiation, saying the month-long stay at the mountains was blissful, a sacred time, and he had enjoyed every moment of it. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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