Exploring the Sabiny culture
Young boys ready to be circumcised at the Sebei Cultural Centre on one of the hills in Sebei Cultural Centre in Kapkwai, Kapchorwa. Photo by Allan Chekwech
What you need to know:
Rich heritage. Forget FGM, the Sabiny have rich traditions that can be a source of revenue for the country
Not many people know about the Sabiny. And majority of those who do, know them for practising Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The rest believe they are a a tribe that excels on the track. However, the tribe exhibits a cultural bedrock oozing with a rich, exciting and befitting norms and customs.
The Sabiny are also popular hunters, they are fervent farmers; they are everything that improves societal values. Forget the days of FGM for it is slowly and persistently fading out. The recently held cultural festival should thus change the image of the community.
First, it had been slated for November 20, and then pushed to November 30. Later, the date had shifted to December 7 before settling on December 29. And such is the patience and anxiety that the residents of Sebei sub-region had to go through as they awaited their first ever cultural festival.
So on December 29, scores thronged the new Sebei Cultural Centre in Kapkwai Parish, Chema Sub-county in Kapchorwa District which President Museveni was to launch as part of the festivities. Annually, for more than 15 years, Sebei holds the Culture Day on November 30 under the auspices of Reproductive, Educative and Community Health. But this year, it was merged with the festival.
The cultural village is situated on the border of Mt Elgon National Park and its location up on the hills gives it a spectacular view of the plains. The festival offered several events: the marathon, the all-night-long circumcision ceremony dance, the food and way of life exhibition and the more than 10 kilometre race that started from the exploration centre and ended in Teryet, where the high altitude training centre is to be built. Because Kapkwai borders the forest, visitors often flocked the forest to view the plains.
There was an exhibition of Sabiny cultural aspects such as food, regalia, medicine, and way of life. More than 10 boys performed the circumcision dance and songs, locally called Chekwoyet. It was so thrilling.
It was about 11am amid whirling winds that President Museveni’s convoy vroomed to the centre. He found the district’s notables such as Transport minister Stephen Chebrot, athlete Stephen Kiprotich, Maj Juma Seiko, RDC Jane Francis Kuka and organiser of the event Kalifani Chemutai waiting to receive him.
Immediately, as part of the activities to launch the centre, he planted a tree, flagged off a half charity marathon amid cultural songs and dances. He would later take a tour around the centre.
Later, while addressing the crowd, President Museveni said he had advised the chairman organising committee, who is also the in-charge of the centre, Mr Kalifani Chemutai, to transform the centre to reflect the way of life of Sabiny. He promised to support the centre in a bid to boost tourism in the region. The president also pardoned FGM convicts but warned the community against the practice.
The cultural festival might have not had the best display of the Sabiny cultural norms, but it being the first, only the best can come in the future. The centre is expected to be a hub of tourism in the sub-region.
