Critical inquest into ku songa masangu (sexual abstinence) as a gender and HIV/AIDS-related issue within African indigenous funerals – a Vatsonga perspective

Death and dying as a global phenomenon have remained one of the most feared issues of human life. Mourning traditions, including taboos, prohibitions and rituals, among others, normally accompany African indigenous funerals. This is because death is viewed as the greatest enemy of man (sic) to the extent that remedial plans need to be put in place to avoid its recurrence in that family, clan, or community. Most African tribes have practised sexual abstinence, though in a varying manner, whenever death occurs. The focus of this paper is to find out what happens regarding sexual abstinence if one wife of a polygamist man passes away. An interrogation of how burial traditions are applied at the expense of a polygamist’s other wives is pursued to understand the philosophy of sexuality in relation to HIV and AIDS. Men seem to be exempted from sexual abstinence during grieving periods to carry on with their multiple sexual relationships while disregarding the possibility of spreading HIV/AIDS with their other multiple partners. This paper utilises qualitative data to unpack if and how historical epistemology on sexuality among the Tsonga fuels gender imbalances that create a fertile ground for HIV in women. These gender imbalances are observed when the tradition of sexual abstinence is practiced amongst the Tsonga-speaking people residing in the Collins Chabane Municipality in the Limpopo province, South Africa. The paper will also delve into the views of both traditional religions and practical theology (Christian religion) to challenge the African historical epistemologies on sexuality within a changing society.