Dabbed with flour and decked with colourful traditional beads and bungles, Farooq Wamboya, 18, emerges from his father’s house, stamping his feet as relatives in ecstasy shout and yell.
The atmosphere soon turns riotous as Wamboya bursts into a song and others swing in, dance and twist towards his Uncle’s home in Bufumbo Sub-county, three kilometres away from his village.
These are part of preparations that have already gripped Bugisu as Imbalu festive season picks up tempo ahead of the official launch of fete in August this year at Mutoto cultural ground outside of Mbale Town.
Wamboya is one of nearly 2,000 boys to be initiated into manhood this even year; during which the Bamasaba undertake male circumcision in the region.
The cultural site is believed to be the birth and circumcision grounds of Mumasaba, the first Mugisu.
The Bamasaba are believed to be the direct descendants of Masaba and live in Manafwa, Bududa, Mbale, Sironko, and Bulambuli districts in eastern Uganda.
Mr Moses Kutoyi, the chairperson of Imbalu with the Bamasaba Cultural Institution, says the season started in January with the initiates practicing the Isonja dance; a preparatory jig for circumcision candidates.
“This dance is important because it helps the boys to acquaint their thighs with bells (bitsetse) so that when serious rituals start, they can withstand the entire process, including the pain of the knife,” he says.
“Uncircumcised men have no place in our culture and its total shame to manhood if you never faced a knife and you call yourself, a Mumasaba,” Mr Kutoyi says.
He says Imbalu is also a symbol of pride and success in families and also a cement of identity and solidarity among the Bamasaba.
But Kutoyi also notes that the enthusiasm and tempo of the vibrant culture is waning with every passing season. He blames this on modernisation and new religious influences.
Similarly, Mr Joseph Masabasi, the coordinator of surgeons for Imbalu, notes that last year, he witnessed an overwhelming number of parents preferring to have their children circumcised in hospitals and in homes rather than during the traditional and communal dance and rituals.
“As traditionalist, I can reliably tell you that our exalted custom is more endangered today than ever before,” Mr Masabasi, says with a worried face.
“It’s a pity and I pray that it stops, otherwise our custom is being washed away and reduced to fit today’s standards, which is unacceptable,” he warns.
Mr Isma Mafabi, another traditionalist, blames the problem on religious leaders who have dark-painted Imbalu as an evil practice. He says such negative attitude threatens the longevity and celebration of their age-old and cherished custom.
Mr Mafabi also warns that the Bamasaba have adopted the culture of circumcising young boys under 14 years, describing it as unacceptable.
“It’s wrong because circumcision is supposed to be for grown up boys, who can feel the pain of the knife but maintain a stone-faced demeanour,” he says.
But the religious leaders say they are only against the evil deeds that are involved in traditional circumcision.
“Circumcision itself has no harm, but we’re against the evil deeds such as initiates being cleansed by evil spirits before they face the knife, bizarre dancing and so on,” Rev Timothy Magomu, says.
Another resident, Mr Seth Nazeba of Makudui village in Namanyonyi Sub-county, who had his sons circumcised at his home, says traditional circumcision is expensive today.
“Our grandparents had plenty food to feed the people but today, it’s different story yet traditional circumcision requires a lot money and resources,” he says.
“I appreciate the ritual because it’s central part of our culture, but we can carry on with it in a more modernised way. We can make it less time consuming, cheap and organized,” he counsels.
The main components of Imbalu fete include food, beer, and Kadodi dance, which can last for a long period. This, Mr James Masangha says, needs a huge budget.
The government plans
In 2016, the Bamasaba cultural institution in partnership with Uganda Tourism Board unveiled a plan to upgrade Mutoto cultural site to boost tourism. The Tourism board also announced that the circumcision fete had been elevated to a carnival and added to Uganda’s tourism products.
Source: http://www.monitor.co.ug
