The Bukusu is a Bantu speaking group that is found in the Western part of Kenya, it is a sub-tribe that that is part and parcel of the Luhya community. The community value a lot the rite of passage of young boys from childhood to adulthood.
| Source: sokodirectory.com |
When a boy feels that he is old enough to go undergo circumcision, he informs his father who now prepares all the materials necessary for the ceremony. These materials consist of a he-goat or a bull, Traditional Beer, a small hut and the circumciser.
Before everything else, a small pot containing Fermented Maize Flour is put in the fathers and then the boy is sent to the river to fetch water with the company of two other boys. The boy puts the water on top of his head and he is not allowed to look back no matter what. This shows braveness and readiness to undergo the cut.
At home, the boy pours the water into the small pot containing the fermented maize flour. This mixture makes a Traditional beer that is drunk by the circumciser when counseling the boy after circumcision.
A circumcision song is sung and the boy is ordered to take part and also play jingles.
| Source: the-star.co.ke |
The following day the boy visits his uncle who slaughters a bull in honor of the nephew and then in the evening traditional dances takes place as the father enjoys a traditional beer with his friends in his house.
The boy is well fed and taken to a shrine where some rituals are performed to please the ancestors.
After returning home, the boy is ordered to play jingles again when everybody is watching.
At exactly 12 midnight, the boy is allowed to sleep for just three hours. He is woken up at 3 am and taken to the river, traditional songs are sung on the way.
| Source: npr.org |
At the river, the boy stands straight and his cousin smears mud on his body. A good amount of mud is put on top of his head and also in the space between the eyes and the nose. A certain grass is plucked and stuck in the mud on top of the head.
The boy’s sister also undergoes some rituals because she is required to carry his brother’s clothes and jingles on their way back, she is also the one who will be preparing his food.
After the rituals, circumcision songs are sung on their way back home. After arriving at home, his aunt comes to him running and attempts to slap him. The boy is supposed to block these slaps to symbolize braveness and readiness to undergo the cut.
The boy is then taken to the circumciser who carries out the practice while the boy puts both of his hands on the waist, he is not allowed to shake or even blink his eyes.
Immediately after the cut, the father and the other people present give him gifts. After all that the boy is taken his small house where he is supposed to stay until he is completely healed.
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John Mbiru is a freelance writer and a blogger from Nairobi, Kenya.
He is the founder of the Fat Loss Consulting blog that teaches people on how to reduce the amount of fat in their bodies. John loves writing and travelling. You can follow him on twitterand linkedin.
