Why circumcision is respected among the Ameru

As the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examinations come to an end on November of every year, this marks the start of a very important season among the Ameru.

The girls retire to their homes to relieve their exam stresses and enjoy their new found yet short freedom while fantasizing about the life in secondary school. However, it is not the same case for the boys.

This marks the period when boys are initiated into men through circumcision which is an unwritten requirement to join the high school besides their KCPE results. This period runs from November through December and some times early January.

Circumcision is by far the most important rite of passage among the Ameru and the joy in the initiates is inexpressible.

The process begins with the boys getting tree branches to be used to seclude the structure he will stay in for a period of not less than three weeks. He is helped to cut the branches by fellow boys as he bades them farewell. 

On the day of circumcision the circumcised("Nthaka"), use the tree branches to seclude the house where the initiatee will stay for the entire period, a procedure they usually start in the evening and lasts for hours.

As a result of emergence of diseases and other health complications the services of a medical doctor are sought, mostly when this period draws near, renown doctors who are experienced in circumcision set up centres at the nearest markets especially in their clinics.

Women gather at home and help in the household chores and make sure matters food are looked into since a lot of food is consumed. The kind of food to be prepared depends on the financial status of the parents or guardians of the initiate. However, on the day of initiation any other food apart from a full sufuria of rice and tea-at the very least- will not be tolerated.

"Nthaka" pick the boy from the circumciser at the market at around 11:00 pm at night and come making a specific and conspicuous noise which sounds like that of a goat.

Once they reach at home the boy, now circumcised, makes way into the seclusion while the young men continue making the sounds,though for a short time, at the home indicating their imminent arrival and then all enter the secluded house.

Food now comes in plenty. They eat to their full and melly though with a lot of discipline. In some instances beer and miraa is provided but strictly for users. Students are not allowed. They then leave at their own pleasure but will keep coming until the boy comes out of seclusion.

Informal education takes place in the seclusion with the boy learning a lot about the society, how to conduct oneself, how to command respect and the consequences of going against the conduct of "Nthaka". As a "Nthaka" one holds the highest discipline and drift from good behaviours is not tolerated even for a minute. They have measures they keep in place to make sure one doesn't drift out of the social norm.

There is a prescribed meal for the boys in seclusion with white porridge being the most important taken in the morning and sometimes at 4:00p.m. Three meals are provided in a day. Most of the boys are unrecognisable when they get out as they are fat, well built and surprisingly light skinned as a result of the large quantities of food consumed and smoke from lit firewood.

After a period of not less than three weeks, a day is set when the boy will get out. Invites are sent out and preparations begin. A lot of food is prepared and new clothes are bought. Pictures for remembrance are taken though not many.

Gifts, mostly in monetary terms, are given to the new "Nthaka" and they leave for the market making sounds similar to the ones they made when the boy got circumcised. The guests are left at home mellying. So respected is the circumcised as he is referred by such names as D.C, Governor, Chief and prestigious terms.

They then join various high schools and wait for the next circumcision season to impart the knowledge they have learnt to new initiates.