April 25, 2024

Elite Zone

The Elite

Preparation For Circumcision Among The Bukusu

In the evening, arrangements are made where the dancing process called Khuminya will take place. Another large beer pot called Emange is prepared. The pot is put at the centre of the father’s house where the brew is filled. The beer is meant for the age mates of the father known as Bakoki

At around 9:00 to 10:00PM, the boy is fed to his satisfaction. He is taken to a small shrine called Namwima which is meant for pouring libation to the ancestors. A piece of meat, blood called kamalasile and beer is put in the shrine all this is meant for the ancestors to feed.

Khuminya then continues up to midnight with the process braced with tuning songs. The boy is the allowed to have three hours sleep. At 3oclock  he is woken up to be taken to the river where Khulonga takes place(the process of putting mad on the boys head and between the eyes with some smeared on the chest hands and thighs) and Lwanutu takes place. As they proceed to the river, songs are sang while the boy plays chinyimba

At the river the cousin of the boy does the Khulonga and Lwanutu to the boy. Lwanutu is the process of plucking and sticking a particular time of grass called Lusinyande on the boys head. The sister of the boy carries his clothes and chinyimba

A few meters from the river the sioyayo is sang until they arrive home stopping only a few meters from the house but this time using a different route. Before the boy arrives home the aunt comes running with a cooking stick in an attempt to slap him. At this particular point, the boy is expected to discourage such moves by blocking.

The father receives the boy the boy and then leads him to the point where he left to stand hands akimbo. The circumciser cuts the boy. No eye blinking or shaking the boy should exhibit. After the circumcision is over, the man can’t sit down until the father gives him a present in appreciation of his manhood. Other people also give whatever presents they might have brought.

Bukusu circumcision

The Process of Circumcision In Bukusu

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