FOUR madalas in their 50s will for the first time be real “men”.
This is all thanks to Somagwaza Insititute, a cultural organisation based in Cape Town, that has managed to help 41 people enter initiation school this month.
Four of the people undergoing the rite of passage from boys to men are between the ages of 50 and 59. They are all going to be part of the summer initiation school starting in November 2023.
Sikelela Zokufa, chairman of the organisation, said the eldest of those undergoing the initiation process is 59 years old and one of the initiates is living with a disability.
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“At one point we were doubting if it was still necessary for us to take him (the 59-year-old madala) to the mountain, but he begged us, and we ended up proceeding with him. He said that he had endured pain at the hands of the community as he is always ostracised from other men and forced to interact with kids since he is not a ‘man’,” he said.
In September 2023, Daily Sun spoke to madala Mandla Cukutu (53), who said his life was hell. He said everyone treated him like a young boy and he was not allowed to interact with his age mates as he was regarded as an “inkwenkwe” (a boy).
“It has not been easy for me because nobody wants to be associated with me. It’s like I have leprosy. When there's an event, I won’t be allowed to sit with men of my age but with boys. I’m forced to call teenagers ‘bhuti’ when they return from initiation because they are men and I’m still a boy,” said the madala at the time.
Zokufa said that taking the initiation rite processes is expensive and requires between R20 000 and R40 000 for the process to be concluded.
He said Somagwaza, though it doesn’t have funding, is determined to help those who are underprivileged, mostly the overaged to go through the process.
“We don't have any source of funding to help these people. We rely on handouts and donations from well-wishers. At this point we are looking for anyone who can help us with food, blankets, clothes and anything that can help us make this process a success,” he said.
The initiates are expected to return from the mountain in December 2023.
