When a boy grows up and becomes mature, the first step he has to take to manhood is by spending a few weeks in the mountain.
This season used to be one of the most important times for those involved, but these days it brings more tears and sadness instead of excitement and pride to the boys’ fathers.
Parents and the entire communities live in fear and pray that the boys who go to the manhood university will come back alive.
The beautiful culture which turns boys to men has been destroyed by people who are after money, in order to make themselves rich at the expense of risking the boys’ lives.
They have turned the culture, which has been in existence for decades, into a get-rich-quick scheme to feed their families and they do not care about its importance and significance.
Listening to my grandfather when he used to tell me exciting stories about the boys who returned, I once wished I was a boy.
Unfortunately, the exciting stories about the boys who come back home after spending time in the mountains have been replaced by sad stories of boys not coming back or ending up in hospital after being severely beaten by those who were supposed to look after them.
The dancing and music have been replaced by grief and frustration.
The boys die due to negligence and irresponsibility of those tasked to take care of them until their return to the community as grown up men.
Cultural experts, traditional leaders and owners of boys initiation schools need to sit together and discuss the best ways of bringing back dignity, love and pride to our culture.
It is our culture, so let us protect, love and ensure that initiations are done the right way; the way which was used by our forefathers.
