Reporting: Bagisu Circumcision—Imbalu—Sends Boy to Manhood

Pre-Circumcision Procession: These boys—having been through hours already of processing—are making their last leg through the village after having been doused in yeast by the elders before they garner their last ounce of strength and courage to survive their fateful date with the elders to become men.

Jubilation Streetside: As the majority of the ceremonies are going on within the village on the opposing sides of this road, many of the village peoples are celebrating—with no end in site—by cheering on the candidates and consuming beverages with all their neighbors. This gentleman—one of the elders—carries this horn with him, and as a ceremony has come full-circle, with a boy having been circumcised and becoming a man, will blow the horn announcing to the people this event.

The Strength and Courage: Having just gone through a public circumcision with hundreds of villagers around, this young boy has just begun his journey to becoming a man. A condition of this ceremony is the strength and courage of the boy must be higher than one could ever imagine. By this I imply to you that to gain the highest respect and appreciation from your family and community, one must remain nearly motion and emotionless. Each candidate receives a 'percentage,' rating how well they showed strength, and courage, therefore each blink of an eye, each tear, each wince, each swallow of saliva and each little motion reduces this percentage...

Wisdomed-Tailor taking Local Brew: This elder sat, and spoke to us as we relaxed taking a bit of malawi bringing to the scene an outstretched-hand from the past. This old tailor was filled with story, after story, after story, in Lugisu unfortunately (though I was provided with rough translations), as the Imbalu processions passed by.