Circumcision, according to African tradition, was not only to teach boys their culture but also prepare them for the marital life that awaited them.

However, according to the Maragoli art of circumcision, it's not a guarantee that all circumcised boys will eventually marry.

Daniel Livoi, the chairperson of Maragoli circumcision committee in Bungoma North told TUKO.co.ke after circumcision, initiates are taken into a forest.

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Several rituals are performed during this period of seclusion, he explained.

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according to Maragoli art of circumcision, it's not a guarantee that all circumcised boys will eventually marry. Photo: Enock Ndayala/ TUKO

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During this period, a cow is butchered and initiates line up to participate in a ritual which will determine whether all of them will get married in future or not.

In the ritual, an elder stands at an estimated distance of 4-5 meters in front of the initiates with a piece of meat in his hand.

He then starts speaking to the Amaragoli ancestral spirits while throwing a piece of meat in the direction of each initiate’s mouth. The initiates are usually on one line during this ritual.

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"If the meat does not land inside the mouth of any of the initiates, bad luck. Either he will never get a wife or if he does, his marriage will never last. It is a bad omen,” Livoi told TUKO.co.ke.

When this happens, the boy’s parents have to call all clan elders for a night feast where they will intervene and plead with the ancestors, asking for forgiveness.

Several rituals are performed during this period of seclusion, he goes on. Photo: Enock Ndayala/ TUKO

The Maragoli traditional circumcision is the most unique in Luhya land as its takes a whole decade for the next initiation ceremony to happen.

Furthermore, during circumcision, only men are allowed to witness the process with mothers and sisters seeing their circumcised kin only after they have fully healed and released from seclusion.

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During the seclution period, the initiates stay in the forest inside temporary structures called Itumbi or Idumi, and taught the values of their culture.

The strange thing is when one initiates dies during the seclusion period, he is taken home and his remains buried in the middle of the night.

Chairman of the Maragoli circumcision ceremonies which is the most is unique in Luhya land as its takes a whole decade for the next circumcision ceremony to happen. Photo: Enock Ndayala/ TUKO

Again, no women are allowed to witness the burial.

Amaragoli circumcision ceremony is highly valued in the community due to the fact that elders have preserved their culture to an extend those circumcised in hospital undergo similar rituals upon healing in a ceremony called Kuaruka.

Story by Enock Ndayala, Bungoma County.

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