African Culture and African Humor

 

I was walking down my road and a newly painted bright purple building caught my eye. The existing structure had been converted into a health clinic-hospital. Painted on the front of the building was the services offered. As I read down the list and came to service #7, circumcition (circumcision)  offered here, I thought it may be worth a blog post.
 

While at language school in Tanzania, each Thursday afternoon an instructor taught about African cultural traditions. One of the instructors, 61-year-old Joakym, also the village chief talked about circumcision and congas. Joakym is extremely traditional as well as a jokester. He believes that a man is a man and a woman is a woman, they each have their place and you never cross that line.
 

Circumcision is the right of passage into manhood and is believed to enhance bravery and courage. The traditional way is a large community celebration, as this is a very important event for its future. When the boys in the community reach 14-18 years they are taken into the bush where they stand side by side to be circumcised, all by a designated tribal leader and all with the same knife. The boys cover their bodies in a white, clay mud that is found along designated rivers. The boys cannot flinch or show any reaction to the pain, if they are to be celebrated into manhood.
 

 Joakym can vividly remember his circumcision and the pain, but believes this is part of accepting the role of manhood. They then cover their bodies in a white mud and remain in the bush for several weeks until healed. During this time, they are taught everything they need to know about becoming man, hunting, marriage, farming, and community responsibilities.
 

Methods of circumcision have progressed with time and now boys go to medical clinics for this procedure, but the traditional way still hold true in remote areas. But still today they have what is called “Circumcision Season” which falls during one of the month-long school breaks.
 

A woman’s place is to take care of the man’s needs. She cooks, cleans and takes care of the children. You do not see men and women in public together, men walk with men and women with other women and children. A man does not cook, and a man does not wear a conga. “No man wears a Conga!!”, declares Joakym.  A conga is colorful piece of cloth which is wrapped around a woman’s lower half of the body. They usually have messages sewn into the fabric. These messages are religious, they may talk about the love of her husband or they may state a warning to another woman to stay clear of her man.
 

One morning, Joakym came to school and was not his usual jovial self. I asked him what was wrong and he explained that his wife’s sister passed away and that is to travel for several days and he has not gotten anything to eat, as he surely would not cook for himself. I offered to cook something for him and he snapped, “men do not cook for men”!
 

Pictured here is me waiting for him to enter his classroom later that day, wrapped in a conga and stating on the chalkboard “Joakym, I will cook for you”!I am thankful we got along very well and he appreciated the humor.