Circumcision Ritual as a Rite of Passage - Essay Example

Circumcision Ritual as a Rite of Passage In this essay I will write about the ritual of circumcision as practiced by young men in East African communities in Kenya and Tanzania. Circumcision in these communities is a rite of passage because it involves a symbolic action that represents a transitional stage in life as a person moves from one stage into the other (Hensley, 2014). In circumcision, a young boy passes from childhood to adulthood. A rite of passage also involves three stages: separation phase, transition phase and reincorporation or introduction into the new world.

The separation phase in East African circumcision ceremony occurs when young boys of about 12-15 years are picked by young adults from their homes and assembled in the bush (Prazak, 2004). In the bush, the foreskins of their penis are cut off to symbolize the elimination of childhood as one prepares to become an adult. Separation occurs because the boys go away from their home and spend some time in the bushes where they are circumcised and wait to be healed. The transition phase in this ritual is the time when the boys stay in the bushes as they wait to heal.

Within this period, the boys are taught the morals, traditions, values and norms of their communities (Prazak 2004). They are taught to be responsible in the society and to understand the key values of the community. The boys are also treated in this phase with traditional herbs so that they can heal faster. Lastly, the boys sing, dance, and eat throughout this transition period. This phase is transitional period because the activities prepare the boys to move into new world of more responsibility as adults in the society.

In the last phase of reincorporation, the men are now introduced into the society as men. This is done through a party or a ceremony with eating, dancing, greeting, and performing all sorts of things to welcome the men into their new world of adulthood (Prazak, 2004). From thereon, the men are not allowed to interact with other boys who have not gone through the ritual because they are now adults. They are given bigger responsibilities such as decision making. In conclusion, the circumcision ritual among the East African communities is a ritual of passage that takes teenage boys through three phases of rites of passage as they move from childhood to adulthood.

In the separation phase the boys are separated from the rest of the community and taken to the bushes where they are circumcised. In the transition phase the boys are taught morals, values, traditions and norms of the community. Lastly, the boys are reincorporated into the community as adults through celebrations. References list Hensley, J.N. (2014). Rites of passage. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers Prazak, M. (2004). Witnessing a Rite of Passage: Circumcision Rites among the Kuria. Accessed December 10, 2014 from http://www.gonomad.com/917-witnessing-a-rite-of-passage- circumcision-rites-among-the-kuria.