Cultural event serves as health platform

ZULULAND’S non-profit Bayethe Trust Foundation is sticking it to Hollywood star Charlize Theron with a lesson on the importance of traditional cultural events to prevent HIV infection in young women, such as the annual reed dance ceremony taking place this Saturday.

This followed a speech made by the actress at the 21st International Aids Conference in Durban in July, in which she called for young women to end ‘the culture that condones rape and shames victims into silence’.

Offended by the comment, Bayethe Chief Executive Director Rhana Naicker wrote to Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Projects (CTAOP), stating culture is a powerful vehicle to fight the spreading of the disease.

‘The annual reed festival, which celebrates virginity testing among 40 000 adolescent girls, is an esteemed cultural festival of the Zulu nation and has been wrongly proclaimed as the platform for the King to choose a new bride.

‘Contrary to the belief of the western world and its activists, this festival… is a form of health intervention to reduce new incidences of HIV among vulnerable adolescent girls by encouraging young girls to practice abstinence from sexual activities, thus reducing infections.

Prevention platform

‘The gathering of the maidens at His Majesty’s (King Zwelethini Goodwill Kabhekuzulu) behest must be hailed as the largest HIV prevention platform, reaching out to the most vulnerable age group of young girls who face huge challenges daily with many high risk factors which adversely affect the choices they make in life, yet they remain celibate.’

She also urged all South Africans to make the effort to learn about the country’s diverse cultures to ‘defend the honour of our nation when our culture is slandered. ‘HIV is a battle which we must fight as a collective.’

CTAOP Project Executive Director, Ashlee George, said Theron’s statement was misunderstood.

‘The single reference made to culture in her speech, was made on a global stage within a global context and was not directed at any one specific culture or cultural group.’

Responding to Naicker’s request for an explanation on why a Bayethe programme for young women at the reed dance has been denied sponsorship, George said the CTAOP has already allocated its budget to seven grantees.

‘These organisations aim to educate, empower and invest in young people and in so doing, prevent the spread of HIV/Aids – particularly among adolescents.

‘Since launching in 2007, CTAOP supported programmes reaching more than 1.2 million young people across South Africa.

‘South Africa, as Charlize’s home country and the country with the highest number of people living with HIV in the world, remains the project’s primary area of focus.’

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