By: Lungisa Somtombo
The publication of a book about initiation written by a woman caused turmoil in social media as men, especially Xhosa men say a woman has involved herself in kraal business.
The author of the Book Siphokazi Vannesa Mpofu pleaded with people to read the book and see that it is not about initiation.
Mpofu said the book is about two boys who went to school together until they were in grade 12. The story starts in 2012 when Lisakhaya was about to undergo initiation and his friend Jacob wanted to go with him. This book narrates the fight between parents as their children who are different in colour want to go to initiation school together.
“The book is about racism and the initiation rite, however, the book does not talk directly about initiation,” she said.
Mpofu said he wrote this book to ask a question of where the rift between black and white people is going to put our nation as we say we live in a democratic society.
This book also shows how the initiation rite is no longer strong and respected as boys go to initiation schools and come back behaving like they were not taught anything.
Mpofu added that she combined these two storylines because Initiation school is a platform for boys to get into manhood and they are expected to be respected men in the future.
She wanted to show how this rite was practised by its people way back, in which everyone had a role to play, from men, women, the boy and the community.
The title of the book is to reflect the change, the nation has changed and the way boys who come from initiation schools behave has changed.
The book wants to change people’s mindsets because each generation is there to change things to fit their current time.
We hope men will read this book and see how a man is supposed to carry himself and change from how they carry themselves
“I want to apologize to the nation for tapping into initiation as a woman, I want them to buy and read the book so they can see that I did not discuss anything I was not supposed to talk about.”
Chairman of the Buffalo City Metro Traditional Circumcision Association Andile Siko said he has not read the book hence he cannot criticize it and he is sure that Mpofu has never been to an initiation school before and therefore doesn’t know what happens there.
Everyone has a role to play during the initiation of boys. Nowadays the boys come back and behave like they were not taught anything, if there is a woman who will come up with a solution then she must come with it.
“It would be unfair to criticize a book before we read it, people must buy the book and read it then they can comment,” said Siko.
BCM Circumcision Forum Chair Chief Stanely Makinana said he does not agree with a woman writing a book about initiation even though he has not read the book yet.
“She is not part of our circumcision forum, she did not approach us and therefore cannot write about something she doesn’t know,” said Makinana.
To get the book people can contact Mpofu on her social media platforms, on Facebook, she is Siphokazi Mpofu. On weekends Mpofu has a stall in Vincent, opposite Food Lovers.