FAQ: What is Likhoni or luliki in Bukusu circumcision?

Likhoni or luliki is a piece of raw meat hanged around the neck of omusinde.

This is a special type of meat from a bull. The meat is derived from the brisket, plate and flank. It must also include the sexual organs and gonads which together are made into a necklace which the boy adorns.

The meat comes from the bull that maternal uncles, khocha, must ceremoniously slaughter for their nephew. This animal, as you might remember in our discussion on enganana, the Bukusu traditional bride price negotiations, is one of the animals that a prospective groom must pay to solemnize the union.

Adornment of likhoni or luliki is in such a way that the testicles hang on the bare chest in the same axis with the boy’s chin. The making of this adornment and performance of this tradition of is done by maternal uncles, khochawe, on the a day before undergoing circumcision. The boy dancing the khuminya dance, goes khulanga, call or invite, his maternal relatives to his big day.

Once the expected, changa style ndolekho etc, is out of the way, the omusinde’s maternal uncles perform their ancestor given duty. They then escort the boy back to his father’s home, jealously protecting the initiate along the way. Try something funny like attempting to trip the boy, these bodyguard crew of uncles will break your legs. All that stands between the boy and the knife is the tradition of khukhombia kumukango.

The immediate pull of likhoni has to be lionization of the initiate. This, in turn bestows confidence in him for the life event ahead of him. By his uncles giving the omusinde such honor, they also bless him. Luliki also fosters kinship relations through marriage and completes the circle between the living and the dead.