Imbalu Circumcision Ceremony — Bagisu public circumcision rites

Imbalu Circumcision Ceremony – Public circumcision in Mbale

Imbalu circumcision ceremony – The jolly tribe of the Bamasaaba is found along the slopes of Mount Elgon and Sipi Falls, they are believed to be agriculturalists and carry out their activities on small scale plots. The Imbalu circumcision ceremonies majority practiced by the Bamasaaba people of Eastern Uganda and is practiced during the even-numbered years in August and December.

Adolescent Stage Changes

Males aged between 18-25 years are considered capable to be initiated into men and this is a common practice in the Eastern region in the districts of Manafwa, Sironko and Mbale among others. In the Bamasaaba culture a boy who has passed the age of 25 years and is not yet circumcised is considered to be half a man there is always many of who announce to be circumcised before the month of August and December for preparations and get short listed. Great Adventure Safaris gives you an opportunity to discover the true culture of Imbalu circumcision ceremony if you plan your Uganda safari within those months.

Imbalu circumcision ceremony starts in the morning led by a group of young men singing cultural songs and whistling and carrying the boys who are going to be circumcised on their shoulders. This big crowd is mainly of friends and family members with their faces decorated with ash and almost half naked with a small cloth below their chest. The initiation ceremony is done publically during the last hours of the day light.

Basani is a name given to the men who have been initiated into full men while boys from other tribes who are circumcised are referred to as Basinde. The women’s identity in Bugisu is measured by marrying a circumcised man. Most males who try not to be circumcised sometimes face a rough circumcision whereby the male is circumcised forcefully without mercy. When travelling to Uganda the Pearl of Africa in one of the even years in August or December take this chance of visiting the Bamasaaba community for interaction and learn more about their culture.