Tradition and the Unwilling

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Zambian authorities rescued 48 boys from an unauthorized male circumcision camp in the country’s south this month, following demands from desperate parents saying their children had been kidnapped, the BBC reported.

Officials said the boys, between the ages of 10 and 17, were found in a secretive, traditional rite-of-passage camp, near the city of Livingstone.

The site was established two weeks ago without permission near a national wildlife park, with officials saying the children were “caged” in unsanitary and dangerous conditions.

One of the boys had been missing his HIV medication for two weeks and three others were briefly hospitalized for complications from circumcision, typically performed with razor blades.

These children were caught up in a traditional initiation practice in Zambia known as “mukanda,” which involves forcefully taking boys from schools, with some being coerced, although some others go along willingly. The initiation is a test of endurance, requiring boys to endure pain and harsh living conditions as a transition to manhood, with the practice shrouded in secrecy and cultural taboo.

Even so, parents reported being contacted by phone with demands for up to $75 for expenses, a large amount of money for many Zambians, despite not having given their consent for their children’s participation. The rescued boys also said they were physically abused when they attempted to escape.

The camp was subsequently burned down. Education officials in Livingstone welcomed the intervention, calling the tradition harmful to the community.