I grew up in a rural area in Kenya where most children join boarding high schools after completing primary school. There are a lot of things that happen in boarding schools. One thing that I witnessed and was surprised about was; a group of girls from a particular tribe were less interested in discussing or playing partners with other students.
The Luos and Kisii tribes are neighbors. We shared the same market, but there were very little intermarriages. The Luos intermarried with Luhyas who were further down East. The two tribes shared similarities in customs and traditions. Luo tribe does not circumcise either male or female, however, Luhya tribe circumcize their male children only.
Circumcising young girls is a practice that dates back beyond anyone's memory in Kenya. Even though the Kenyan government has banned the practice, parents are still risking jail terms and heavy fines to put their daughters through this sacrament of passage. Kisii tribe still circumcises both female and male children. It is clear that the tradition will be difficult to eradicate, or the government has less resources to control it.
December is the traditional month for circumcision ceremonies in most parts of Kenya. Kisii, southwest of Nairobi still practice these rites and it continues. Circumcision has continued in many parts of Africa, and Kenya particularly, these tribes believe that - it is a passage to adulthood. The circumcision procedure for girls involves the removal of all or part of the external female genitalia. Often done with crude knives in one of their huts, the painful operations can cause life-long health risks. The cutting may cause life-threatening infections, increased susceptibility to HIV, and could deprive the girls of ever having any sexual sensation. Only after a girl is circumcised is she considered ready for marriage-and the community shuns those who refuse the procedure. An uncircumcised girl fetches a lower bride price. This is changing slowly with girls leaving homes to school outside their district; however, circumcision is done before the girl joins high school-between the ages of seven to fifteen.
In all the communities where the practice persists, bride price is deeply embedded and a girl who refuses to be circumcised is a threat to the would-be wealth her father expects on her marriage. There were cases where girls have been ostracized by their parents for refusing to be circumcised. One other belief for the Kisii female circumcision is to decrease female sexual feeling. This is also one tribe that the rate of divorce is very low compared to other tribes. Probably effective communication and good relationship between girls and their parents need to be improved.
Betty Odak [http://www.therapist2010.info]
The Luos and Kisii tribes are neighbors. We shared the same market, but there were very little intermarriages. The Luos intermarried with Luhyas who were further down East. The two tribes shared similarities in customs and traditions. Luo tribe does not circumcise either male or female, however, Luhya tribe circumcize their male children only.
Circumcising young girls is a practice that dates back beyond anyone's memory in Kenya. Even though the Kenyan government has banned the practice, parents are still risking jail terms and heavy fines to put their daughters through this sacrament of passage. Kisii tribe still circumcises both female and male children. It is clear that the tradition will be difficult to eradicate, or the government has less resources to control it.
December is the traditional month for circumcision ceremonies in most parts of Kenya. Kisii, southwest of Nairobi still practice these rites and it continues. Circumcision has continued in many parts of Africa, and Kenya particularly, these tribes believe that - it is a passage to adulthood. The circumcision procedure for girls involves the removal of all or part of the external female genitalia. Often done with crude knives in one of their huts, the painful operations can cause life-long health risks. The cutting may cause life-threatening infections, increased susceptibility to HIV, and could deprive the girls of ever having any sexual sensation. Only after a girl is circumcised is she considered ready for marriage-and the community shuns those who refuse the procedure. An uncircumcised girl fetches a lower bride price. This is changing slowly with girls leaving homes to school outside their district; however, circumcision is done before the girl joins high school-between the ages of seven to fifteen.
In all the communities where the practice persists, bride price is deeply embedded and a girl who refuses to be circumcised is a threat to the would-be wealth her father expects on her marriage. There were cases where girls have been ostracized by their parents for refusing to be circumcised. One other belief for the Kisii female circumcision is to decrease female sexual feeling. This is also one tribe that the rate of divorce is very low compared to other tribes. Probably effective communication and good relationship between girls and their parents need to be improved.
Betty Odak [http://www.therapist2010.info]
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