It's almost that time of the year again when the Xhosa boys will have to go to initiation school and undergo a very painful and educational ritual from boys to men. It's sad that many boys never make it back home. In olden days this ritual was sacred, the core pride of being a xhosa male. But now my culture is mocked, exposed to the public and undermined by authorities. I'm wondering how many lives must be lost before the Xhosa poeple start putting pride back in our culture and tradition, but thats another topic. I went to the initiation school in 2003 i was 17, the 1st few days were full of agony anything taught to me at that time did stick instead it made me annoyed, as days went by i healed and i realised this is one chapter of my life which i will always remember, one chapter which not everyone has a the pleasure of experiencing, you look beyond the pain, beyond the punishments when you can't remember what has been taught to you, you form a bond with other initiates, the bushes become your home, you cant wait to return home but when the time comes for you to return home you feel sad leaving other initiates behind (oqabane bam), it feels like you leaving a home you've known for years, people you've known for ages. I realise it was not just another chapter in my life................ I'm an African in a quest of my roots.......
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