Samburu Circumcision Ritual
A young Samburu boy a few days before his circumcision ritual He is travelling to the top of a large outcrop to collect cold water The water will be used in his own circumcision as the only form of anaesthetic to dull what must be excruciating pain Circumcision is an important ritual for all young men in Samburu culture It is a ritual that marks the end of childlike things and ultimately sets the young man on the path to warrior status The circumcision ritual happens once every 8 to 10 years and the boys aged as young as 8 and sometimes as old as 20 are circumcised en masse in a 2 month long ceremony as the circumcisor travels from village to village to complete his task The event is an emotionally charged event and boys wait for what must be an eternity during the last week for the circumcision to take place It is performed by a specially anointed man whose skills are passed down from generation to generation For each boy the ceremony is performed without anaesthetic only cold water to lull what must be overwhelming pain Yet each boy faces the ritual with the utmost dignity for even to flinch when the knife is brought to bear is to bring great shame on himself and his family
Size: 2389px × 3584px
Location: Archer's Point, Northern Kenya
Photo credit: © George Philipas / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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