The Bukusu have made headline news through the interracial marriage story that has refused to go away in a country where there are ‘red lines’ between tribes and races.

The Bukusu are likely to continue hogging the limelight especially as the circumcision season officially opened in Bungoma county and environs.

The need to jealously protect our culture cannot be overstated. In fact the Swahili say ‘Mwacha mila ni mtumwa’.

But even as we celebrate our cultures, there is need to do so in an environment that recognises the modern health challenges bedeviling our society, the scientific strides that have been realised and the human necessity for dynamism and change.

ABDICATED ROLES

In a society that is grappling with ‘a lost’ generation, community activities such as circumcision can serve to rejuvenate morals and the African spirit in each one of us.

In a society where parents have abdicated their counseling roles in pursuit of academic and economic fulfilments, the society can resume its role of raising all kids just like their mother; selfless and loving; strict but fair.

The initiates are offered life skills training on growing up as a man, respect to all elders, need for independence, behaviuor accepted by society and even the dreaded conversation on relationships, sexuality and information.

According to the World Health Organisation, voluntary male circumcision reduces the risk of HIV nfection by up to 60 per cent.

MASSIVE TRANSFORMATION

However if the right measures are not put in place, this period of celebration and initiation could be a moment to look back to in regret.

Whereas it is important to recognise that there has been massive transformation in traditional circumcision, notably the one surgical blade per initiate policy, more still need to be done especially in curbing the threat of HIV/Aids and other blood borne diseases such as hepatitis.

Of concern however is the pressure and the public ridicule that comes on those who choose to get circumcised in hospitals.

They are quickly branded bekhulupao (those who belong to tables or timber) and treated as lesser men who have no right to give opinion on anything in front of real men.

It is important to debunk the myth that hospitals are for cowards. Just as those who choose to go through the traditional ceremony should be commended, those who go through hospital circumcision should be lauded. Ostracisation will only have negative outcome especially on their confidence and feeling of self worth.

Beliefs that a female doctor should not do the cut only serves to perpetuate the stereotype of male superiority and further demean the status of the African woman.

The final initiation into manhood in most cases is the ‘trying’ out if the circumcision has been successful. This usually involves sexual intercourse with an unmarried girl as part of the celebration into manhood. A process that has sometimes turned into an avenue for infections.

Whilst we need to appreciate the role of culture and give it its rightful place as Africans, it is important that we never lose cognizance of the fact that emerging and existing health threats require precaution and collaboration with scientific and technological advancements and not antagonism.