December is traditionally the time for the "Cut" in most societies in Kenya. Boys are circumcised just as they start to reach puberty It is a time of celebration in the community. Boys spend a few days in isolation after the surgery and emerge as ‘men’. The dangers in this practice are dirty instruments and infection and also the transmission of HIV from the poor hygienic practices. A boy this year died from excessive bleeding and could not be taken to hospital because of the tradition of isolation after the cut.
In general terms I think there are many such rituals all over the world. The bonding with one’s ‘age mates’ who all undergo this at the same time is extremely strong. Amongst the Masai, a traveling ‘warrior’ can ask shelter from his age mates in the new community. Failing any such, then his father’s age mates must offer hospitality.
All this sounds very reassuring. Girls do not fare as well.
A couple of years ago I wrote an article on FGM (female genital mutilation) which I won’t repeat here. Suffice it to say, that although the practice is illegal in Kenya many tribes still gather together their young girls at this time of the year to undergo the cut.
This week a father was arrested for attempting to force his two daughters, aged 8 and 9 to be ‘circumcised’. Of course if your only hope of acquiring more cows (ie wealth) is to obtain the bride price for your daughter, and if you cannot marry her off because she has not been ‘circumcised’ there is strong compulsion to follow the cultural norm.
Child rights activists have rescued more than 200 girls who were being forced to undergo the ritual. The girls are aged 10-15. At least one was found with hands and feet bound.
In another area a 32 year old woman is fighting for her life after being forcibly circumcised over the weekend. She had somehow resisted for over 20 years but sustained serious injuries and suffered from severe bleeding. She underwent a 3 hour reconstructive surgery and blames her mother for secretly organizing the cut.
I am happy to say that the Luhya, amongst whom we live, practice the male cut but do not 'circumcize' their girls.
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