The Bukusu circumcision ceremony is important to the health of the community of Babukusu, the largest of the 18 houses of mulembe, because it brings together kith and kin in celebration of life, progress and continuity. The tradition of khulanga, makes this possible.
To date, the Bukusu of Kenya hold their customs and traditions sacred. Among these traditions is the rite of passage from childhood to adulthood – the all important circumcision ceremony referred to as embalu, sikhebo or khukhwingila.
This important event that defines my people, Babukusu, takes place every two years bar unforeseen circumstances such as war or disease. That said, this community-wide happening finds it’s soul in agitation within individuals – prepubescent and adolescent boys – who it is believed have the courage within stirred by spirits of our forefathers.
The exact time when the spirit awakens within a would be initiate, omusinde, varies from individual to the next. For some, they catch the fever from the air. As their peers traverse the villages performing the traditional dance khuminya, the songs awaken the kutalang’i within.
For others, the were ‘ready’ the other time round, but were deemed too young, thus their time is now. Whichever way it happens, it is the responsibility of the initiate to let the people and his relations know that he was ready. He does this through the tradition of khulanga.
The trigger: The role of omusinde
A boy, usually between 10 to 14 years of age, who feels that he’s ready to be initiated into adulthood shares this aspiration with his father. On receipt of the good news, the father embarks on his divine fatherly duties. He starts to look for a bull or a he goat, food and tools for the big day. This boy who has made his desire to be a man clear, is now officially referred to as omusinde.
Traditionally, after the boy gets blessings from parents, he takes a hen to a blacksmith in exchange for two bells called chinyimba. Chinyimba are a shared resource that keeps circulating in a clan. After acquiring the bells, candidates meet at night to rehearse for the ceremony. This is meant to build courage to face the knife.
The rehearsals are done in the month of June and July until the elders are convinced that the candidates are ready for the knife. The father of omusinde will also draw a timetable, that runs to the day of the circumcision, of calling relatives beginning with those living very far away.
Khulanga: Roles played by the parents of omusinde
The father of omusinde will at this moment communicate with his in laws about the intention of their nephew to get cut. He also marks a date on his calendar when his son would face the knife. The boy’s father will also take time to identify key players in the ceremony like omukhebi, namakhala, namachengeche and the person who will smear mud on omusinde. The father to omusinde will finally identify likombe where the omusinde will be staying after circumcision.
Naturally, a first born son gets circumcised at his paternal grandparents house and only leaves after he has undergone all rituals and rites that pertain circumcision. Bukusu circumcision usually takes place in August of every even year. However, this may run through to December like in the case of this year’s circumcision.
In the month of August 2020, the country was right in the middle of a ravaging pandemic- COVID-19. Prolongation of the circumcision period this year is part because of the initial hesitancy whether it will take place this year in light of COVID-19. Part as a measure of managing crowds by allowing for spacing of events.
Khulanga and what it entails
Every morning before omusinde leaves his home and every evening after his day out khuminya, calling his people, his mother or the matriarch of the home, must ululate to set him off and welcome him back. Growing up, escorting basinde through the village was a necessary evil that some of us willingly suffered the pain of lukhendu for.
Omusinde has to follow this drawn out timetable and be in the company of a chaperone who may or may not be the one taking care of him after circumcision. Omusinde may be carried on a bicycle or vehicles depending on the distance they will be covering.
If they are covering long distances, omusinde will put on a shirt and keep his chinyimba in in a small bag when on safari. He will then remove his shirt and begin playing chinyimba as people sing and dance around him. Calling relatives from near and a far to invite them to his circumcision ceremony may go on for a week or more depending on the need.
When omusinde comes to call you (khulanga) he will begin hitting chinyimba from far. At first you will hear the sound of a whistle and chinyimba alone, then you will begin hearing people singing. The song and sound of chinyimba will become clearer with time.
Changa style ndolekho
You on the other hand prepare yourself to receive the omusinde with a gift. When omusinde arrives in front of your house, he identifies a spot somewhere in your oluyia. Then, he stops and dances. You remember the changa style ndolekho discussion we had earlier? Yes. This is where omusinde will showcase what he is made of. He will dance his heart out.
As the dancing goes down, the woman of the house will periodically let out ululations called sikalakala. Omusinde will also be given a gift depending on the host’s preference. Omusinde can be gifted with livestock or money in appreciation of his courage and decision to graduate to adulthood. After all the song and dance is done, omusinde and his chaperone will then be asked to inform their hosts of the date for the big day. The last relative the boy visits to invite to his circumcision ceremony is the maternal uncle –khocha.
Subscribe to Mulembe Weekly
Get culture, language, stories and discussions in your inbox every Friday 5 PM East Africa Time
