Circumcision in South Africa

Not all South African tribes do male circumcision. The amaZulu, with whom I grew up, do not. The amaXhosa do circumcise their males in adolescence. The boys are "initiated" into manhood through circumcision as a group once a year by the Sangoma - witchdoctor/shaman.

They do not use standard aseptic surgical techniques or even basic hygienic methods or anesthesia or drugs of any kind and there is a 15% mortality rate because of infections or shock from blood loss. There have been times when nearly all of the group of initiates have died of septicemia - blood-poisoning. I remember when this happened once and it was traced back to the use of a rusty piece of metal - namely the lid from a tin can.

Females are not circumcised except in the Islamic cultures of supra-equatorial Africa.

Related link: Male Circumcision in Africa.