I grew up in a place where there was no Jando and Mizondo. I heart could skip by the mention of this. I could nearly cry if some-one told me “Ah! Ah! kani iwe unajandulidwa” I used to always ask myself why did our father had to do this? I wouldn’t pee in front of people, the only option was to go to the lavatory.  I got more confused when I went back to my village, girls and boys could laugh at you if siunajandulidwe. This was a nightmare. If not circumcised and don’t know how to swim, they called you M`ngoni. I was even ashamed of speaking Yao in my friends presence. but now its a different story, i teach my ngoni friends the language since they dont know theirs.

When I grew up it started making sense to me, and finally realised that if I was not circumcised it could have been a big problem. People get it cut off for health problems. It acts as a receptacle area for STDs just to mention a few. I would advice all you folks out there to get your foreskins cut off! But spill the oil accordingly! Its not a shameful thing at all.

Mchawa