FLORA LYIMO FASHION POLICE Q & A'' HIVI NI LAZIMA WANAUME KUTAHIRIWA?'' HAWA VIJANA WAPO KWENYE FOLENI KWENDA KUTAHIRIWA NA HATA NELSON MANDELA ALITAHIRIWA HIVI AKIWA NA MIAKA 16' SOMA ALICHOSEMA MANDELA ALIPOTAHIRIWA"MBUTA NANGA!!

Recovering: Boys from the Xhosa tribe who have undergone a circumcision ceremony sing inside a hut near Qunu - the area where former South African President Nelson Mandela grew up''

Walk on by: A dog is photographed next to Xhosa boys as they sit in a field undergoing as part of their traditional Xhosa male circumcision ceremony into manhood near the home of Nelson Mandela''

NA HUYO MBWA ANAKWENDA KUTAHIRIWA PIA AU,,MBUTA NANGA" POLENIIII''

Altogether now: A caretaker of Xhosa boys covered with blankets in a field as they undergo the traditional Xhosa male circumcision ceremony into manhood dances and sings with them''

Thousands of teenage boys from the tribe go through the rite of passage each year, spending a month studying in isolation and undergoing the painful circumcision by a traditional surgeon.
But human rights activists have called for an end to dangerous cultural traditions after 42 boys died from botched circumcisions in just three weeks last year, reported The Guardian.

This figure was almost double the total of 26 reported over the same period in 2011. Then, five boys were so badly injured that their genitals had to be amputated - and 300 were taken to hospital.

Traditional: A Xhosa boy covered with a blanket and smeared with chalky mud stands in a field as he and others undergo a Xhosa male circumcision ceremony''

On the floor: Xhosa boys sing in a hut as they undergo the traditional Xhosa male circumcision ceremony''

Pathway to manhood: Xhosa boys covered with a blankets and smeared with chalky mud walk through a field''

Pathway: Human rights activists have been calling for an end to dangerous cultural traditions in South Africa''

Concerns: South African police said last month that 23 teenagers had died in nine days at initiation ceremonies, and opened 22 murder cases in the deaths in the north-eastern province of Mpumalanga''

Mr Mandela wrote in his autobiography that he went through the circumcision ceremony aged 16.

'I felt as if fire was shooting through my veins. The pain was so intense that I buried my chin in my chest'

Nelson Mandela

He said: ‘Without a word, he took my foreskin, pulled it forward, and then, in a single motion, brought down his assegai [spear]. I felt as if fire was shooting through my veins.MUNGU WANGU''UWIIII" POLENIIII'MBUTA NANGA'YANI NI KAMA UZAZI ,MWANAMKE KUJIFUNUA EE''Flora Lyimo''
‘The pain was so intense that I buried my chin in my chest. Many seconds seemed to pass before I remembered the cry, and then I recovered and called out, 'Ndiyindoda!' [I am a man!]’
South African police said last month that 23 teenagers had died in nine days at initiation ceremonies, and they had opened 22 murder cases in the deaths in the north-eastern province of Mpumalanga.

Teenagers: Mr Mandela wrote in his autobiography that he went through the circumcision ceremony aged 16''

Tribal: In addition to being circumcised, the boys and young men are put through a series of survival tests''

 

Initiation: Boys' faces are painted with red or white clay and they also are given herbal concoctions to drink''

In addition to being circumcised, the boys and young men are put through a series of survival tests which sometimes include exposure to South Africa's chilly winter conditions with skimpy clothing.
Their faces are painted with red or white clay and they also are given herbal concoctions to drink.
Police said all the deaths were at government-registered initiation sites where medical practitioners are usually present. The Government became involved to prevent such unnecessary deaths.

TUMESHIRIKI KUTOKA DM''