Conference: Asia and Africa in Transition

Panel: Engendering humanity in Africa and Asia

Convener: Lauraine Vivian, Global Health Section, University of Copenhagen

For centuries male circumcision has been practiced amongst African autochthons, like the amaXhosa people. This happens as a rite of passage to bring youth into manhood and in reciprocity, girls to womanhood. The ritual celebration can only happen if mothers and fathers agree, the son consents for his circumcision, and the community participate in the event. This establishes safety in circumcision practices and resilience in youth who are prepared to take up mature sexual relations and familial and clan responsibilities. Circumcision thereby marks men, and childbirth those women who will on their deaths become clan ancestors by allocating gender-based religious authority and political belonging. Importantly, circumcision was once fundamental in an African practice of Ubuntu; a shared philosophy that a person is a person by virtue of other people. This embraces tolerance of diversity amongst all beings. Dr Thanduxolo Nomngcoyiya from Fort Hare University, Eastern Cape, South Africa will co-lead the panel to discuss gendered, cultural and human rights in its traditional practice. In this respect the panel will focus on amaXhosa women’s roles and rights to bring the rite of passage to fruition.

Although circumcision practices are under challenge, its practice connects the physical body to the spirit world and in Africa marks those who will become ancestors. As in Asia, circumcision rites allocate religious authority and political belonging. On both continents the engendering of spiritual beings and states of divinity raise individuals beyond ordinary human existence. These states of being have the potential to heal and restore people and the environment. Today human rights advocacy frequently contests circumcision practices, establishing a disjuncture between Europe and Africa/Asia. Decolonisation seeks however, to re-frame questions of gendered identity, race, and ethnic difference from the perspective of African and Asian autochthons. This panel seeks to acknowledge the tolerance shown by these peoples during centuries of European colonisation by engaging in debate on these socio-cultural, ideological, and religious practices.

Panel

• Dr Lauraine Vivian, Hon Research Assoc. Global Health Section, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen.

• Dr Thanduxolo Nomngcoyiya, Senior Lecturer/Postgraduate Research Director. Dept. Social Work/Social Development, University of Fort Hare, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
• Simon Kang’ethe, Professor/Head of Department. Department of Social Work/Social Development, University of Fort Hare, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
• Mr Zolani Sonjani (PhD Candidate) Lecturer/2^ndyear Coordinator, Department of Social Work/Social Development, University of Fort Hare, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
• Dr Cynthia Hunter, Senior Lecturer, Public Health Department, University of Sydney, Australia.

Moderator

Lauraine Vivian, Global Health Section, University of Copenhagen.

Programme 30 June
Room 23.0.49