Boys to men: Imbalu season starts

Mbale- This is an even year and the imbalu (male circumcision) season is on. The legendary ceremony among the Bagisu ethnic group that marks the initiation of boys into manhood starts today. The ritual brings a festive atmosphere in the Elgon region: Music blares, the dance is engrossing, food is in plenty and beer flows.

Among the Bagisu, circumcised boys bring pride to the family. This is not to say there are cowards who flee: These, however, are sought after during the season. Forceful circumcision is seen as an advancement of cultural dictates.

For the uncircumcised men from other tribes in the area, the story is different. They must watch from a distance, or in the worst case scenario, flee in case they are mistakenly identified as uncircumcised natives.

At least 100 boys are set to be circumcised today as the -2014 season opens. The ceremony infused with decades-long norms will be attended by President Museveni and his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta, according to the organisers of the event.

The ritual will be hosted at the cultural home in Mutoto with circumcision of boys who have undergone weeks of preparation. They will be cut using simple tools without anesthesia.

Cultural site
Mutoto, the Bugisu cultural site, is regarded as the traditional ground where the first Mugisu [Mumasaba] male was circumcised. At Mutoto, elders lead the imbalu candidates in songs, rhythmic dancing before they face the knife.

Bagisu live at the slopes of Mt Elgon in Eastern Uganda, speaking one distinct language, but with several dialects. Imbalu is a very old custom with a mysterious origin. It involves the removing the fore skin of the penis.

Although the desire to be circumcised is believed to be spiritually inspired, many faint hearted Bagisu have fled the region and taken refugee in other districts. So powerful is the tradition here that when the luck of such men runs out, they are circumcised forcibly.

Name and shame
Gishu women have been taught to secretly report their uncircumcised husbands to elders. A contemporary example is one of UPC strongman Stephen Mujoloto who had hid for many years in Kampala but was later nabbed and circumcised forcibly, an incident that made news.

According to the cultural minister in the Bamasaba [Bagisu] cultural institution, Mr Augustine Wandende, a budget of Shs97 million has already been sent to the districts in the Elgon region.

These include; Bududa, Manafwa, Mbale, Sironko and Bulambuli. Mbale Municipality and the Babukusu in Kenya, who share norms with the Bagisu, have also been asked to make contributions.

“After the launch at Mutoto, the circumcision will then spread to other parts of the Mt Elgon sub-region,” said Mr Wandende. The sub-counties to host the subsequent mini-events include; Bungokho, Manafwa, Bududa, Sironko before ending up in Bulambuli. The ‘ripe’ boys who will be back to school during the period when the circumcision ensues will be catered for in December.

Regional participation
The chairman Bulambuli District, Mr Simon Wananzofu said Bugisu cousins from Kitale, Webuye and Bukusu of Kenya and some Bagisu from the diaspora under North America Masaaba cultural Association [NAMCA] are expected to participate.

Festivities on

They jump up and down pounding their feet on the ground hard as they flap two small sticks together held high over their heads, the four Bagisu youth have been dancing for three days in preparation for their circumcision day to be held at Mutoto grounds in Bulambuli District.

Mafabi Steven, 18, is one of the 11 Bamutoto candidates to be circumcised the inaugural ceremony of this year’s imbalu season today.
“I am ready to be circumcised and I have been rehearsing the cultural dances for three days now,” says Mafabi as he continued with the rehearsals together with his four colleagues, with naked chests adorned in beads.

According to the oraganisers, all is set for the Imbalu Festival 2014 at the Mutoto Grounds located at the footsteps of Munale Hills. Pomp and fun at an already heated up location welcome you with beaverage companies also already camped at the scene. Make-shift restaurants, bars and dancing joints form the quadrangle of the celebrations grounds.
At the lower side of the Mutoto Grounds stands eight grass-thatched mud huts branded the Masaaba Cultural Village. Each county in Bugisu sub-region has a hut that will be occupied by their residents at the festival. They include Bulambuli, Budadari, Bungokho, Mbale Municipal Council, Manjiya, Bubulo and Kenya’s Bungoma and Transnsoia counties.
“The bigger house is meant for the Bamasaaba ancestor, Masaaba together with his sons, Mwambu, the first son, Wanale, the second son and Mubuya the last son,” says Mr Charles Wepuchulu Wetuma, the Bulambuli District chairman.

According to Mr Wetuma, the opening ceremony will be presided over by the Umukuuka (Cultural leader of the Bamasaaba) who will occupy the biggest house that stands in front of the other small huts.
Mr Wetume says that Uganda Tourism Board has declared the annual Imbalu festivals as a national tourist activity. The event will also involve bull wrestling and cultural performances. The Imbalu Festival is expected to match Brazil’s Carnival an activity that attracts thousands of tourists from within and outside Brazil.

“All local surgeons have been trained and screened to ensure that none of them has HIV/Aids to avoid transmissions,” says Mr Wetume.
Mr Wachi Abdul, one of the local surgeons says that the entire circumcision procedure takes a minimum of 10 seconds and maximum of 30 seconds and the ripe candidate are males aged 16 years and above.

THE LEGEND

The Bagisu (people of Bugisu sub-region), alternately Gishu, Masaba, or Sokwia, are a tribe of the Masaba region of eastern Uganda, closely related to the Bukusu people of Kenya.

Bagisu live mainly in the Mbale District of Uganda on the slopes of Mount Elgon.

They speak a dialect of the Lumasaba language called Lugisu, which is fully understandable by other dialects, and is also understood by the Bukusu.

Legend has it that the removal of the foreskin was initially a punishment meted out to a man who preyed on other men’s wives.

However, when the man recovered, he resumed his vice with such skill that drew females to him. Other men followed suit.

Another legend, according to elders, points at a Gishu ancestor who wanted to marry a Kalenjin girl from the Barwa clan of Kenya and was asked to make a covenant of circumcision with this clan. He loved the girl so much that he agreed. The descendants followed in his footsteps.