Facing the cut - Transition from boys to men

Currently, as you approach Bungoma county from any part of the country, you are welcomed with songs and ringing bells from all directions, all in the name of circumcision ceremonies. Teenage boys aged between 10 to 15 years crisscross the county with ringing bells semi-naked to inform their relatives that they are ready for the cut in a process known as khuminya, usually an overnight vigil.

Circumcision songs not only send shivers to initiates but also to their parents and circumcisers who spend sleepless nights until the exercise is over.

Circumcision is highly regarded in the Bukusu and Tachoni communities as it is used to usher the boys from childhood to adulthood. It is held every even year usually in August and December holidays.

HISTORY

Story has it that the Bukusu community started practicing circumcision in the 18th century after their king known as Mango Maalule, killed a big python snake which had previously killed many of the tribe members.

The snake had brought death to residents by biting them on the head, so much so that the villagers opted to walk with a hot porridge pot carried on the head, so that when the snake struck, it wouldbe burned by the porridge. Mango went to face the snake alone with a knife after it attacked and killed his son.

During that time it was only theSabaoti, who were neighbors to the Bukusu, practicing circumcision.

The Sabaoti who are commonly referred to as Sebei, a Kalenjin community, circumcised Mango saying he was a courageous and brave man after he killed the reptile.

It now became official that anyone who attains the age of 18 years and has not paid the debt of Mango (not circumcised), is ridiculed as a coward and is forced to face the cut.

Expert opinion: Why the thrill is gone

RITUAL

During the traditional circumcision ceremonies, relatives and friends gather at the home of the initiate (s)where they sing and consume the local brew commonly known as busaa until morning when the boy is initiated.

Before the boy faces the knife, he is first escorted naked to a nearby river, early in the morning, where he is smeared with mud by a chosen man before he is brought back home to be circumcised in public.

For the boy to be initiated, two bulls are slaughtered; one at home and another from the maternal uncles. Some parts are removed from the animals and worn around the neck of the initiate.

Once the actual cutting ritual is over, about two to three days later, the circumciser talks to the boy(s), now regarded as men, on how to conduct themselves. This is usually done in the presence of a few elders. Some of the wisdom imparted include how to treat elders with respect and to stay away from temptations of married women. The latter is usually said as a warning as many females will now regard them as men of sexual age and hence very likeble.

This year's ceremonies kicked off on August 1 and are expected to run throughout the month. The boys are expected to have healed by then and ready to go back to school when they reopen for the next term.

Unlike previous years where anybody could circumcise, this year only certified circumcisers have been allowed to take part in the process.Each circumciser is required to have at least 10 knives commonly known as lukembe to be allowed to participate in the ceremony.

Cases of knives slipping and cutting off the head of the children's manhood have also been reported.The process is not for the faint-hearted as cases of children getting scared and taking off have also been repotted.

The chairman of circumcisers in the county Sinino Mungololo said they usually converge at the home of one of the colleagues to perform a ritual of blessing the knives.

"We cleanse and pray for the knives so that our ancestors assist the circumcisers do their work safely," he said.

According to Bungoma county director of culture Augustine Mayabi , the circumcisers will be in full uniform and will also display their accreditation cards.

"We want the cut to be performed only by certified circumcisers who underwent our training across the county."

Mayabi also urged circumcisers to observe hygiene in order to not infect boys with diseases.

CRITICS

However, many cultural activities associated with circumcision are being discarded as many parents think the cultural event is becoming more expensive. Most parents are opting to instead take their boys to health centers claiming that slaughtering two bulls for people to feast on is very expensive.

Religious leaders in the county are also advocating for parents to take their boys to hospital than spend their meagre resources on the cultural event.

Led by Father Pius Lukhale of Kimatuni sub parish, the leaders have advised parents to value education first rather than subjecting young boys to torture by making them to run around half-naked with bells.

"Why should you slaughter two bulls and prepare food for people to feast on for free and next term you have no school fees for the same child'' he wondered.

CIRCUMCISION HIGHLIGHTS

In Bukusu community, those circumcised in the same year or within a span of two years, are of the same age set. There are seven age sets in the community namely; Kolongolo, Kikwameti, Kananachi, Kinyikeu, Maina, Bachuma and Sawa.

Those circumcised under the same age set call each other brothers and they school,walk and do most of their activities together. Some of the age sets brothers even go to the extent of constructing a small hut commonly known as a simba at an identified homestead and put up together.

Most of them even marry at the same time or even from the same place. The wife to a fellow age set brother is highly respected and it is a taboo to have an affair with her.

During funerals, if the deceased is from your age set, you are not supposed to see him being lowered into the grave but are instead to walk away.

During circumcision period, if a fellow age set brother is circumcising his son, the others who got to the home are either given money or meat commonly referred to as lubaka.

Source