Not all cultural traditions are worth keeping

The bull that caused recent controversy in South Africa has now been sacrificed in Nongoma – with the approval of the courts – as part of the Ukweshwama ritual to offer symbolic thanks for the first crops of the season.

Yet, the bigger challenge for all communities in South Africa – from whatever colour – remains: To honestly re-examine all their cultural, traditional and religious assumptions and practices. To reduce such a call as an all or nothing battle between so-called ‘modernists’ versus ‘traditionalists’, or Western ‘civilisation’ versus African ‘backwardness’; or as an attempt to ‘denigrate’ African cultural beliefs’, is simply wrong.

Of course, as Africans we have experienced first-hand the barbarism of Western cultures that have portrayed themselves as ‘civilised’, ‘enlightened’ and ‘superior’ compared to African cultures, but that in practice have oppressed vast numbers in the most dehumanising ways imaginable.

The debate over the fate of the killing of the bull offers us the opportunity to reflect on parts of all cultures in South Africa that may conflict with the values of our constitution, individual dignity and safety. It is not going to be easy: These issues go to the heart of our sense of self.

The judiciary may pronounce on cultural practices that undermine constitutional values, individual dignity or safety, but ultimately, ‘triggers for (cultural) evolution are the people themselves who practice such cultures’, as Zizi Kodwa, the spokesperson for ANC President Jacob Zuma puts it.

Whatever our culture, we must treat animals in a humane way in our traditional rituals. For another, as African parents (many whites also) it was accepted as part of our ‘culture’ to beat a child that misbehaves. Yet, the practice of ‘disciplining’ a child through beating inculcates a culture of violence.

Our constitution calls for gender equality. As African males (white South Africans also) we have grown up viewing women as our ‘possessions’. In the Eastern Cape, King of theAmaMpondomise, Mpondombini Sgcau, criticised the old cultural practice of Ukuthwala because it was abused by forcing young girls to marry old men – this is the kind of leadership we need now. Again, prejudice against gays and lesbians is also carried out on the basis that it is allegedly against African ‘culture’ – which is nonsense. Eudy Simelane, one of the stars of Banyana Banyana, South Africa’s national female football squad, was gang-raped and brutally beaten before being stabbed 25 times in the face, chest and legs, because she was lesbian. What kind of culture approves of this?

Many young Xhosa men die every year during circumcision operations at traditional initiation ceremonies. Deputy police minister Fikile Mbalula was a few years ago
dragged unwillingly to participate in a traditional initiation ceremony. Firstly, the space must be created for individual conscience to decline to participate in circumcision, or any other traditional ritual he or she opposes. But for those strongly feeling the need to participate in initiation ceremonies, there should be better conditions governing circumcision.

Furthermore, the curriculum for initiation schools should be adapted to grapple with the new challenges of our time – including the notion of gender equality, safe sexual behaviour and discouraging the dominant ‘macho’ perception of maleness.

The King of the abaThembu, Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo stands accused of kidnapping, arson and culpable homicide. The king is awaiting sentencing after he was found guilty of kidnapping a mother and her six children after he had personally set their home alight, to ‘discipline’ them. His defence advocate, Terry Price, argued that because of the king’s status, he should be treated with leniency.

‘What you cannot lose sight of is the fact that he did not go out to destroy lives but was committed to disciplining his community … They got the punishment that they deserved,’ Price said in mitigation of sentence. Surely, if we claim our cultural practices allow our traditional leaders to do as they please – even kill, then there is something wrong with aspects of such culture. It is wrong to blindly support morally wrong practices on the basis of cultural solidarity.

African culture has a long tradition of democratic practices also, such as consensus seeking and internal debates. But it also has some very autocratic practices – it is not wrong to admit so, neither is it wrong to say let’s discard such aspects. Finally, if only those who so zealously defend the most dehumanising aspects of ‘culture’, would declare African leaders’ greed, corruption and clinging to power as against African culture – and fight these ails with the same resolve, the continent would be a much better place.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY PAMBAZUKA NEWS

* This article first appeared in the Sowetan.
* William Gumede is co-editor (with Leslie Dikeni) of the recently released The Poverty of Ideas.
* Please send comments to [email protected] or comment online at Pambazuka News.