Agreement Mkhari 
By Joyce Dube
Initiation school, known as dikoma or ngoma depending on language, was started by our forefathers to teach young men about the transition from childhood to manhood. Traditionally, boys would be taken to the mountains for three months, from June to August each year. While in most tribes this practice is reserved for boys, in parts of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, initiation is held for all genders.
On 9 August 2025, children from Mpumalanga returned home from the initiation school. Families and children were overjoyed to be reunited, celebrating the safe return of their loved ones. Remarkably, this year no lives were lost during the initiation period — a source of pride and relief for everyone involved.
To mark the occasion, families prepared small welcome ceremonies filled with traditional food, vibrant activities, and heartfelt reunions. The initiates also demonstrated to their parents what they had been learning in the mountains.
“I am full of excitement because all children came back safe and healthy, and we never experienced any complications during our stay in the mountains. Parents cooperated throughout the process, which made my work easier because I wasn’t doing it alone. Staying with other people’s children is challenging, especially when you don’t know them well — a lot can happen — but I am grateful that nothing went wrong,” said Elliot Mahaule, owner of the initiation school.
Although initiates miss time in formal schooling, the experience equips them with valuable life skills. They learn independence at a young age, preparing them to make wise decisions and face life’s challenges without struggle.
“At first, I regretted my choice of sending him to initiation. It was hard to sleep at night without knowing what was happening to him. I was used to seeing him daily, checking if he had eaten, bathed, and was healthy. For two months, all of that stopped, and I felt like I had failed him. But with time, I accepted the situation. Seeing him today, healthy and strong, makes me proud and happy,” said parent Pinky Mazibuko.
One of the initiates shared:
“It was not easy. At some point, I blamed myself for going, but later I accepted it because I couldn’t reverse the decision. Now I am back home, and there is no greater feeling. I learned a lot — how to survive, how to be independent — and I met people my age and older who guided me. Independence doesn’t mean disrespecting elders, stealing, or using drugs, but making wise decisions. Going to initiation doesn’t mean you stop listening to your parents; it is a chapter in life, moving from childhood to manhood, and I am grateful for that.”
The day was filled with joy, and even those who had not attended initiation wished they had. It became more than just a homecoming — it was a celebration that brought extended families together, with some travelling long distances to witness the return of their loved ones.
