Led by Shepherds is a powerful memoir by Jeffrey Rakabe that traces his harrowing experience as a twelve-year-old undergoing a traditional Koma initiation ceremony, a rite he believed would mark his passage into manhood. What follows is a brutal ordeal that contrasts sharply with his early hopes. As Rakabe grows into a student and voracious reader, he begins to question the cultural practices that shaped him, exploring the links between the language of initiation and the broader crisis of gender-based violence in South Africa. Blending personal narrative with social critique, Led by Shepherds is a courageous and vital work that challenges tradition and champions the transformative power of education and critical inquiry.
ISBN Number: 9781431435722
Year of publication: 2025
Publisher: Jacana Media