What does it mean to become a man? One initiate's story challenges tradition...

CapeTalk's Lester Kiewit speaks to Jeffrey Rakabe, author of 'Led by Shepherds' – a memoir of his experience as a 12-year-old boy undergoing a traditional Koma initiation ceremony.

Listen below:

How do traditional initiation ceremonies shape the views of young men in South Africa?

Rakabe's story begins with him leaving his village at age 12 to attend an initiation ceremony, believing it to be the key to his manhood.

But the weeks-long rite of passage in the mountains turns out to be a far cry from the adventure he’d imagined.

Rakabe says as a child, he believed that his initiation would mark his passage into manhood, but later began to question this as a young adult.

He tells Kiewit that despite initially being excited about the prospect of initiation, he would later feel disappointed.

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"After my circumcision, I realised that traditional male initiation is not the big African ritual that turns boys into men."

Jeffrey Rakabe, author of 'Led by Shepherds'

"I realised that consisted of these thousands of little humiliations."

Jeffrey Rakabe, author of 'Led by Shepherds'

Years later, as a student, Rakabe would discover what he calls, 'the nurturing world of books' and spend hours reading at the Johannesburg Public Library. 

His readings would lead him to question whether initiations contribute to the high levels of gender-based violence and toxic masculinity in society.

"I was looking into answering the question about what we can do about GBV in South Africa, and I landed on how traditional initiation ceremonies contribute to gender polarisation."

Jeffrey Rakabe, author of 'Led by Shepherds'

Rakabe says within the Koma ceremony there is a big 'rift' between men and women...

"When you are in the initiation, you are supposed to diminish women – swear using the women's private parts. You are told your penis is a spear and girls are waiting to have sex with you when you get home."

Jeffrey Rakabe, author of 'Led by Shepherds'

'Led by Shepherds: An Initiate’s Memoir' is published by Jacana Media.

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