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My traditional circumcision
“Ngolo Ngolo Ngolo” sound was heard from a distance followed by a cheering squad,singing the luhya traditional circumcision songs.Songs to boost your morale and hit that bell as a possessed man.I was in Bungoma during the Bukusu traditional ceremony time.When i saw the young man hit the bell I saw myself in him,several years ago it was me in his shoe, hitting the Eshikhutu like no man’s business,I had decided on my own will to face the blade,the traditional way.Oh my how did I get there…
Two days earlier we were having a chat with my cousin.We were tired of being called “Lifunga” uncircumcised.We could not even hang out with the older boys because they would remind us of our long sleeved manhood.The school urinal was also another head ache.We would wait for the circumcised boys to finish their business fast then we would follow.They were so proud of the cut that one day Edmond almost paraded his pendilum in class just to prove that he parted ways with the sleeve.The cheering squad would hit the Eshikhutu at night calling out names of the uncircumcised at Irecheya.This particular night Mike the oldest guy in our class had threatened to call out our names at night after we had made fun at him for scoring zero in all subjects.True to his words I was in the sitting room taking super with my family when the cheering squad passed at our gate.They were calling me a coward,in their song they were telling me if Iam afraid of Ingwe(a herb used to cure the wound after circumcision.)I should go to Luo land where circumcision is not mandatory.It was enough,nobody will redicule the great us again .We would face the blade.
We consulted Lipua Lipua who arranged for us to elope at night to Mzee Mungoma’s home.Before making up our mind,we really feared this Mzee.It was said if you shake hands with him and you are not circumcised,at night in your sleep,spirits will come and circumcise you.He congratulated us and took us to the rest of the team.Oti my classmate was also in the team.
Unlike the Bukusu who pass through many rituals,us the Marama circumcision is a simple process.We were woken up very early in the morning,the cheering started as we took Oti to his father’s compound.In the middle of his father’s homestead,in the presence of the whole village and community the omushebi separated him with his foreskin.He bacame a man Infront of his people. ullulations started as his transition to manhood was celebrated.The same was done to the other guys including my cousin.It was my turn now.
As I was hitting the Eshikhutu,I was nearing my father’s homestead.I thought about running away but it was also said "once you hold Eshikhutu you have to be circumcised,or else the spirits will cut the whole thing at night."The thoughts of spirits going with my apparatus was worse than facing the blade.I thought of Gon,my grandfather ,a retired law enforcement officer.A total no nonsense man.I knew he would come to my rescue.My father’s homestead was two corners away,the cheering squad was behind me,women and men singing songs for me.Praising me for my boldness.In my mind I knew my grandfather would rescue me.How could he allow his grandson to crudely face the blade without any Antisthetic drugs.
I could see my father’s homestead a few meters away.All of a sudden my clothes were removed,the guys sorrounded me,hiding my birthday suit with leaves.
I got to our gate and I could not believe my eyes.Gon the one I thought would come to my rescue was acting like a possessed man.He was jumping up and down with leafs in his hands,he would even roll down on the grass,legs up and shouting sounds that I can not write here.He must have run mad.Gon was pulling stunts I’ve never seen any grandfather do for his son.I even saw him do the parade salute.Once a police always a police.
He welcomed the Abashebi and everyone in his home.My time to pay the price of being a man had come.I thought of all the redicule at school,I thought of how I was going to feast on chicken to my full recovery.If Gon has given the blessings whom am I to fail him."Shika hi Kwa shingo"woke me up from my thoughts.“Panua miguu followed”.Then I saw Asha,my crush in the village,she was looking at me with eyes that spoke directly at my soul “boy you have to do this,you have to be a man.” What a motivation.
I could feel the rough hands of Omushebi on my long sleeved apparatus, twisting it like a microphone as he folded my sleeve,he uttered something and the whole crowd celebrated.Then I felt the knife cutting through the veins of my existence chwaaaa my foreskin had been separated from me.He held it up and before everyone,including Thatcher he declared me a man
“you are now a man,if you get someone’s daughter after healing,prove to them that you are a true son of Irecheya.”
Ullulations started as I was escorted to my Isimba…
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Wamakobe wa Wamakobe