Circumcision rites

This is the season for circumcision. From what we can gather, the rites vary from tribe to tribe, but we have yet to meet a family, which does not practice this ritual. One tribe who practice the event in a traditional manner, live near our home. They perform the ceremony in the following way: The boys, usually between 8-14 are preceded running through town or on the highway by adult family and friends who carry sticks, singing and chanting as they run. The boys follow as they proceed from house to house announcing the impending ceremony. Neighbors join the procession. They usually end up at an uncle's home. The uncle kills a calf in honor of the boy. The intestines of the cow are draped around the boy's neck and then a big hunk of meat is also draped around his neck. He runs, leading the group, back to his mother's home, where the meat is cooked in a feast for all attendees.

The ceremony is then performed in a public gathering. The boy is then taken to a hut away from his mother's home. He remains there for 2 months with an older boy, who takes care of him. His mother may not feed him during this time nor have anything to do with him. His parents are not supposed to have conjugal relations during this time or the boy's wounds will not heal properly. The boy is chalked with white to show his rite of passage.

Last week, we attended a very elaborate wedding announcement party, beautifully presented. About 300-400 people were in attendance at the outdoor event. The brides' father is a Veterinary doctor, so they live on a large shamba (farm) in a brick house. The party began at 10:00 and was still going very strong when we left about 5:00PM. The bride's brother (14 yrs old) had been circumcised 2 months earlier, and his "coming out" party was combined with the bride's announcement party. During the day, he was honored (as was she) with separate cakes, songs, dances, and chants. This circumcision was performed in a hospital, but the boy still returned home to be cared for by an older boy in his own hut way out in the field. After the party, the boy would begin his life in a small mud home on the property away from his mother's home, living with his older brother. This was an active LDS family who had the party.

Two days before this party, we were visiting in another branch. There were three women sitting talking with me. All three had sons who had been circumcised within the last month. One was performed at home, one in the hospital, and one in a clinic. The mother, who had it done at home was very worried because something had gone wrong, and her son (9 yrs old) was having problems. She was asking advice of the mission president's wife (who was a nurse in her former life) because of the leakage. When I asked these sisters why they circumcised their boys--was it a health issue, or tradition, or cultural acceptance--to be like others. They all said their reasons were the last...because it is what is done. Circumcision is performed only on certain years and at certain times of the year. That is why so many are being done now---it is the year for many tribes.