Were you circumcised in the traditional way? This is a common, albeit rude, question that Gents face whenever they identify themselves as Bukusu. So popular is the Bukusu traditional circumcision ceremony that it is sure to dominate conversations. If for one reason or another your knowledge on your peoples ways isn’t up to scratch, that’s what mulembenation.co.ke is here for. We got your back guys!
The Bukusu are a people whose culture is close to their hearts. In particular, one cultural practice that has refused to die is circumcising our sons. The Catholic church has done its fair share of evangelization. Other churches like the Friends church, The Salvation Army church and the whole confluence of Roho churches have all tried to deter my people from traditionally cutting their boys in vain.
Part of this ceremony’s staying power is its elaborate and deliberate nature. Another property has to be its layered nature that draws a host of players whose willing actions add strands to my community’s social fabric.
Sisingilo
Back then, a man’s age was determined using his age set. All boys between ages 8 to 12 are eligible for the cut. So if one died and didn’t quite know his age, my people would look at his age set and estimate his age. The margin of error would be +/-4 years.
An age set is referred to as Sisingilo. Sisingilo runs for 10 years. Those circumcised at the beginning of an age set are referred to as Basimikha, then namba mbili, tatu, inne in that order. The final Basinde of a certain sisingilo are referred to as Bafunga.
Khukhebwa or khukhwingila the opening act of the Bukusu traditional circumcision ceremony
The act of getting circumcised is referred to as khukhebwa or khukhwingila. Have you heard of the area of a homestead refereed to luya or luuya? I speak of the front yard of the main house in a traditional Luhya homestead. For all intents and purposes, this area is a sacred place. First, all harvested food is dried and handled here. Further, this is also the place where major declarations and ceremonies occur. The most common of which is the Bukusu traditional circumcision ceremony.
Omukhebi
The person circumcising, the traditional circumciser or surgeon, is known to as omukhebi.
Lukembe
The knife. Also known as kumbano kwo mukhebi.
Omusinde the star of the show in the Bukusu traditional circumcision ceremony
The boy seeking to be circumcised is referred to as omusinde. When they are many, they are known as basinde. It is important also to note that not all basinde are the same; as there are special types of would be initiates – such as twins and the children of omukhebi. For these special types of basinde, special considerations come into play when they get circumcised.
Omusinde is also a term used by men when introducing themselves in a way that honors their mothers. My father for example often introduces himself as omusinde wa Nakhatama; meaning, I am the uncircumcised son of Nakhatama.
So how do you become omusinde? Well, as boy comes of age, his friends and family taunt him with jokes aimed at assess his determination, courage and seriousness. Basically, the prospective initiate is under a microscope.
Every bit of his mannerisms and how he carries himself is analysed. In addition, he has to brace himself for taunts on whether he will be able to withstand pain and humiliation involved in the whole exercise. What this means is that yes, some prospective initiates are rejected and made to wait for the next year as they are deemed not ready.
Khukhupa kamasakari
As society keeps their eyes on them, omusinde on their part will keep assuring their family that they are ripe for the cut. To prove this, boys will begin khukhupa kamasakari; translated, it means beating maize stocks. This beating of maize stocks is preparation for beating of a special type of jingles during an important part of the traditional Bukusu circumcision ceremony. In addition, part of their daily routine of taking care of animals will include boys training each other on how to dance with the jingle.
Sirere and enyimba or chinyimba
Besides learning how to dance, they will also practice how to blow the whistle. Occasionally, one of them would sneak in the bells and the whole area near the river would be chaos. These bells that omusinde dances with has two parts. There is a metallic bracelet known as sirere; and a bell that they hold in their palms known as enyimba or chinyimba in plural.
A fully donned omusinde will also have a whistle tied around his neck. This whistle is symbolic as it an extension of his mouth. For a month or so, omusinde will dance through the village blowing the whistle to call his distant relatives. Moreover, the whistle is meant to draw attention onto himself. It serves as an identifier. This whistle will be withdrawn three days to the d day. With the calling done, withdrawal of the whistle is meant to let omusinde concentrate and meditate upon on the important task ahead of him.
Ekutwa and ekutusi
Some Bukusu clans will adorn their boys with a traditional headgear. Ordinarily this headgear made from Columbus monkey hide is referred to as ekutwa or ekutusi is meant for kings. Today, initiates from wealthy families incorporate ekutusi into their dance to make them stand out. They will for example shake their heads in a certain fashion when dancing for effect.
Kimikomeri
Whenever omusinde announces his intention to get cut, if his paternal grandmother is alive, she has a duty to adorn him with beads. These beads are the beautiful beads she has been wearing around her waistline. The beads that she probably was gifted years ago during khuboa chinyinja are in this context referred to as kimikomeri.
In this case the boy will put them on like a sash that drapes from one shoulder to the opposing hip across his chest. He would have two of them such that the beads will form an X pattern on his chest and back. A well prepared omusinde will then find ways of incorporating the beads into his song and dance. A good omusinde makes sure the beads bring out beautiful music as he dances.
Khuminya dance is the heartbeat of the Bukusu traditional circumcision ceremony
A good omusinde must also be good at khuminya. As early as June in the year that elders have designated as the year of the Bukusu traditional circumcision, basinde announce their readiness to face the knife. They way they do this is by ‘calling’. Calling involves moving through the villages while singing circumcision songs and beating on chinyimba.
How to pronounce khuminya
As the initiates course through the villages, they are escorted by their minders (older mates already circumcised); younger uncircumcised mates who in escorting basinde are themselves practicing for their time; and peers including girls.
Khuchukhila, the penultimate event ushering in the knife during Bukusu traditional cut
Khuchukhila which literally means ‘to pour’ is an important event during Bukusu circumcision. Because, once the omusinde performs khuchukhila, the irreversible process of beer fermentation begins.
Meaning, in three to four days when the beer is ready, he should be facing the knife. Basically by preforming this rite, the initiate sets the date when he will face the knife; come rain or shine, his beer comes good or bad (kamalwa kakatikhe).
As a sign of the man he will become, the initiate puts an act of courage to prove to the clan he’s ready for the cut. So, khuchukhila he must.
Khutiukha the closing act of the Bukusu traditional circumcision ceremony
My first formal sex education lesson occurred when I participated in a Bukusu traditional circumcision ceremony called khutiukha. On this day, all of us aged 8-18yrs were asked to get into a hut where initiates who had undergone the cut had recuperated in. The rules are very clear, every one sits on the floor with their legs stretched out.
This applied to everybody including those who had been circumcised in the just concluded circumcision season. It also included girls who had been tasked with cooking and looking after the initiates.
Bafulu
The initiates after undergoing the rite are referred to as bafulu.
Namachengeche
The girls who cook and take care of bafulu are referred to as namachengeche.
Namakhala
Younger boys accompanying bafuku and running errands for them such as gathering rocks for hitting birds for food.
Lulongo
The white clay mixed with cowdung that bafulu and namakhala smear on their faces, feet and limbs to scare away young girls.
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