Forced Circumcision: Fallacies and Truth in Circumcision Songs of the Bukusu of Western Kenya

Abstract

Circumcision is a cultural practice that has existed in many African societies for a long time. Many African communities have a deep value for this practice which is considered an indispensable rite of passage. Due to this, some of the communities have refused to tolerate members of their communities who defy this practice. This has led to incidences of forced male circumcision in some of the communities. The Bukusu community, a sub-community of the Abaluyia community is one community that deeply values this cultural practice. The community practices circumcision of adolescent boys every two years. The deep value for this cultural practice has led to intolerance towards defiance to circumcision. Based on field work conducted Webuye district of Bungoma County, in Kenya, the paper unravels fallacies in Bukusu circumcision songs and gives a logical solution to Bukusu forced circumcision.