Private Story
Kuloba Peter Tera | Basani Barura (The Men are Getting Out)
1st Place
Imbalu is a centuries old practice by the Bamaasaba/Bagisu in Eastern Uganda and their relatives the Bukuusu and Luhya of neighbouring Western Kenya. It is the initiation of boys in puberty into manhood and officially starts in August after the sighting of the second full moon.
Imbalu is said to have been introduced to the Bamasaaba by their in-laws the Maasai whose daughter Nabarwa married Masaba but they demanded he had to undergo the rite of circumcision that he agreed to. Since all the Bamaasaba are children of Masaba and Nabarwa the male sons are required to be circumcised to appease Kimisambwa kwe Mbalu (spirits of Imbalu) from Nabarwa’s clan that lured Masaba to get circumcised.
Imbalu is a spiritual process and the Imbalu candidates perform many rituals before being circumcised. The preparatory stage begins from January till late July and this involves the Isonja dance that trains the candidates and fine-tunes their dancing skills while testing their manhood. The poet and instructor (Namwenya) who’s very knowledgeable about folklore and traditional songs, takes the lead instructing the candidates and selecting the best dancers to represent their respective clans at the final dance competition during the official launch of the Imbalu year in Mutoto cultural grounds.
There are many steps in preparation of the candidates for Imbalu, this include the reminding drums (Khushebusa), Isonja dance, Khukoya busera (brewing the beer) three days before the candidate is circumcised, Khuaka kamamela (smearing the yeast) to enforce men traits, Khubeka litsune (shaving the hair) this is done by paternal aunt, visiting the clan, cultural sites and relatives for blessings and gifts, Khukhungyila (the circumcision) the candidates are arranged according to the age of their fathers before undergoing circumcision on the clan courtyard (Lutsya), Khusabitsa ritual (washing) passage ritual after circumcision this is done by the surgeon on the third day after undergoing circumcision, he instructs the new men on the values and duties of manhood, being a leader and to appreciate agriculture.
Inemba is the passage ritual after healing. It is an important ritual that all the new initiates have to attend which involves dancing at the clan cultural grounds for week long proceedings. The initiates may win wives from the many young girls who attend, an initiate may pick any girl and have sexual intercourse with her and it is taboo for the girl to refuse, though the times are changing.
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