Transcript for "Sikhebo (Circumcision)"

Esese Alita Makokha ndikho nende embakha ye sikhebo nga khu lwasai babana nebenya khwingila bari, kumwaka kuno kuli kukwefwe kwa kimila ye sikkhebo omubukusu nokhepele musikhebo ta aba soli omubukusu ta.

I am Alita Makokha, I have a story on circumcision as for now when children are preparing to be circumcized, this is our circumcision rite's year, a Bukusu who has not participated in circumcision, deems not to be a Bukusu.

Yaba omwana nakhuulile nali omwana omutiti alikho kecha khwolana khukhula, kecha abukule embalu ya rarawe, kabechanga kari omwana kolanga khumiaka kumi na nne, kumi na tano nese samwene okholomaloma yuno, sai ndi nende kimiaka sitina mbili, sengorirwe sikhebo nga sikhosikenda namwe sibukusu ta.

When a child had grown from childhood, growing to take up his father's circumcision season, it was like this a child was growing to an age of between fourteen and fifteen, myself who is talking, am sixty two years as of today, I cannot be in a position not to know how circumcision is being carried out.

Yaba omwana yuno kecha kakhubolela ali papa?, oli yee, papa nolile embalu, "áah, wolile embalu?," "oli yee" "olikho umbea?" "tawe papa nolile embalu," "ndere eyaywa nde ano wimekho mbone nga wolile embalu?"

When this child comes to inform you that he is ready for circumcision "aah! you are ready for circumcision?" "you are lying to me?" "no dad, I'm ready for circumcision." "Should I bring an axe so that you stand on it to show you are ready?"

Ali papa lera namwe "mulosi raa sichengo esieso mumaika siye sirobe, olere anje ano omwana yuno kemekho mbone kabali ali nende bung'ali bwe embalu."

The boy would insist he was ready and the father will request the mother to put some metal on fire and ask the boy to stand on it to prove he was ready.

Ali ta papa khabarere, mala kang'ali omwana oli nende kumwoyo kwe embalu barera sichenga, nekemakho yabechanga sikhale papa akhutesitila wosiwosi kenya amanye omwana yuno atosia emblu nga kambolele namwe ta?

The boy courageously says, let her bring it dad, a boy/child who has an interest and courage for circumcision can stand on some of the hot metal those days dads could test you from anything just to know whether the boy is ready for circumcision or not.

Baasi, nono omwana yuno nga rarawe nekecha khumukhaka kenya amanye ali nende kumwoyo kwe embalu namwe tawe, naba barera sichenga esio bara anje.

So, when this boy was tested by his father to know whether he is interested in circumcision or not, so that metal was brought and put outside.

Nono yicha khubone, omwana oyo nga kecha oli alikhokaripiao, naloma ali tawe papa oli nende kumwoyo kwembalu.

"Now come here," when that child nears the place, the father tells him, dont step on it, I see you are ready for circumcision.

Nono omwana yuno amubolela ali, nono papa esese nabone chinywinywi chili mungo muno, papa mbekho enywinywi ndala enje chinyimba, neyabechanga abwenao.

Then, this boy tells him, now dad I have seen chicks in this compound, could you please give me one so that I go look for traditional bells, it was during this time.

Kang'ali chinyimba chabenga enywinywi, namwe ata osuta liki noyilila kukhu wowasio mungo ndala fulani, neli wa Wekesa, neli wa Nasirumbi namwe neli wa Mwenya, baasi nebabukula chinyimba echo bakhuwa nobukula liki omuwelesia ne mala orekukha ne chinyimba echo.

When getting traditional bells (jingle bells) were only exchanged with a chick, or you could carry an egg and give it to someone's grandma in one's family, either in Wekesa's, or Nasirumbi's or Mwenya's, they give you the bells and you give her the egg in exchange.

Nga ocha ne chinyimba echo wola nacho engo nobolela papa woo, sokisa ta, papa? "yeeh", "ese nga nakhubolele esindu nisio umbelesie njile nanyola chinyimba wowasioase echisi", "mmh, wama waye?", "mmh nama wakukhu Nasirumbi."

You leave with the bells and when you arrive at home, be open, without hiding and tell your father, that as I told you whatever you gave me, I went and got jingle bells from my friend, the father will ask, "where are you from?" the boy could answer, "grandmother Nasirumbi's home."

"Wama wa Nasirumbi?" "yee," "niye okhuwele?", basi chinyimba echo, ewewe omusasi nga rarawe, sali mawe ta niwe obukula chukumu ye khuboyela omwana woo oyo chinyimba.

"You are from Nasirumbi's home? it is her who gave you?" so these jingle bells, you as a parent, as his dad and not the mother, it is upon you to help prepare the jingle bells for your boy.

Mala aba oli khomuboela nende chisala chifufu, ne chisala chifufu chino khwakesanga chiniala.

Using small dry sticks, these sticks were normally harvested and dried.

Nio obukule oboele omwana woo chinyimba, ne mala aba omuboela nende kumulamalama.

That is when you should make the bells for your son using a special strong tree bark.

Khwachichanga khukhocha kumulamalama, mala okhoboola.

We used to go a peel the bark of the strong tree which was special.

Liliola lie mukari muno orusia, baasi lilieneli nilio khwaboelanga chinyimba.

The inner part of the bark is what we used to prepare jingle bells.

Ne enga noboa chinyimba orio nomala baasi.

As you finish tieing/preparing the bells now.

Esuku yekhukhwanja khukhupa chinyimba chino wabole lekho babasio bataru banne nebecha ango wenywe ne banja khukhuminya.

The day you plan to start the process, you must invite a few friends to come to your home and they start singing for your circumcision.

Enga bakhuminya bario, bamanyile bali omwana wa nasilebe, omwana wa Wangila, namwe omwana wa Wachipukhu "eeeh, khane mungo muno omwana kolile?" omwana kolile.

As they perform the traditional dance and songs, they know that so and so's son, "eeeh! so we have a son who is ready for circumcision in this home?"

Omwana wolile embalu sarichanga ta, enga nali ario rarawe kole ne amusindusia nende luyi lukhali luyi ta, namwe ata mayi wewe, amupee burafu kabisaa abone omwana yuno kamasika kalengalengakho namwe ta? Omwana yuno kesindukhakho namwe ta?

A child who is ready for circumcision does not fear, as the father arrives and gives him a hard slap, or even his mother to figure out if the tears will come out or whether the child will be tensed or not.

Ne mala abwenao yaba basecha kwalia burwa, kwalia busongola munwa.

And it was during this time that men used to eat world fruits like berries.

Eeh khwalia kamasalila ekewa eyoo, basie efwe, khwakhapana chikhorondo, khwapana chisimbo, chinyama chibimba busa khumubili lakini wicha obolela sa omusasi oli tawe khurekanenge busa khweika kimiinyawe.

We ate sour orange citrus auriatum at the river, we used to beat each other using sticks, our bodies were swollen but we came to tell our parents that we were just playing and gaming.

Baasi, nono nge lili lirio omwana yuno khuchaka khukhamana nga sikhebo ne kenyile ario, omwana yuno na arekukha mungo bali nio alikho acha khuanja khulanga kanjilanga wa sengewe niye rarawe.

Now as it is, in regards to circumsion, and the will of this child, when the child leaves his home to start inviting people to his circumcision process, he used to start with the auntie from the father's side before going to the uncles.

Baasi, omwana yuno ache anyowe kapile enyimba mungo mwa sengewe, omwana yuno akobole, omwana yuno ne kakhakobola kole mungo mayi wewe kape lukalakala ne lukalakala lwa kwanza aba amupile karura nono nga nakobola aba lwe khabili.

Now, this child starts to play the bells at his auntie's home, then returns, when he has returned and reached his home, his mother makes shouts and praises, the first one will be when he will be leaving, this one will be the second one.

Lukalakala lubechanga lwe khataru lubechanga nono bakhumalilie khuluya embalu yoo yawele aba wingila munju.

The third shouts of praise are when you have been circumcised and you are entering your house.

Omwana yuno ne kakhaba kario, eeeh, ndakobolakho anyuma mubolele.

As it is, this child I will go back a little to tell you.

Yabechanga khale omwana yuno narekukha bali nono keoyile embalu yewe yawele erio, omwana kachile mwikombe, omwana ne kama mwikombe mwewe omwomwo se akobolamo lundi ta.

A long time ago when this child leaves, happy that his cirmcumsion rite is over, and he is in his house, when this child leaves this house that has been hosting him since he was circumsized, he does not go back again.

Nakhebiswe kacha mwikombe omwana yuno sakobolamo ta, omwana yuno abanga kama mwikombe omwo nacha mubasie.

After circumsion, he goes to this house that hosts him for a while, he does not go back to that house after the purification ceremony, the child leaves this house to his friends and age sets' house.

Ne bakonanga wakukhuwe Nanjekho aba acha wa Nanjekho, nakonanga mwa Nasirumbi aba acha wa Nasirumbi.

If they sleep at his grandmother Nanjekho's home, he goes to Nanjekho's, if they sleep at Nasirumbi's, he will go to Nasirumbi.

Kabechanga sa kario, namwe nakona mwa Nakhanu ne babasie aba acha wa Nakhanu, mubasie.

That is how it is, or when he sleeps at Nakhanu's house with his friends, it means he will stay at Nakhanu's together with his team.

Ne yesi alikho acha khunyola babasie bakhebwa ne bamusangalila.

He will meet his age set, who also got circumcised and they will be happy for him.

“Eeh, yaya watekile wamala embalu!” “Bakoki!" “Bakoki!" “Watekile wamala embalu.” "Eeeh!”

"Eeeh! brother, it is good that you got circumcised." "Age set" "Age set" "You did well to be circumcised" "eeeh!"

Biabechanga biri.

That is how it used to be.

Omwana yuno nakhebiswe mungila nge echo chirio, omwana yuno kabechangamo ekhoyo.

After this child got circumcised through this process, it is the community's pride.

Ekhoyo yabechangao yabechanga eriri.

The pride that was there, was like this.

Esiku ye mukhwalukhe eyeyo, omwana yuno bali kalukha, sengewe arera lirungeti, kukhuwe arera kusuka.

The aunt would bring a blanket as grandmother will bring the bedsheet on the graduating into adulthood day.

Yabechanga awenao kimisuka kiabechangao bali Marekani, kimiwanga kate, kiabechangao.

Those days we had sheets called American, white in color.

Nenga kiabechanga kirio yaba oli omusani, mala ochila esikuli lisiati sa liongene mala kusuruali kate okwo namwe kusiati kate okwo kwong'ene busa.

And as it was like that, as a circumcised man you used to go to school in shirts or shorts made from that sheet alone.

Okenda onyakhanyakha busa ocha esikuli okobola mala ewe omusani.

You walk freely, going to school and back but you are a circumcised man.

Bakhubachukha bamala, wecha mungo bakhwekhoyela lakini onyakhanyakha busa orio. Ne bukhwe ndi lelo buli sai.

They celebrated you, you came back home, they welcomed you but you are just walking aimlessly, in-law respect exists nowadays.

Yabechanga khale awenao yaba bukhe mbao.

Those times, there were no rites from in-laws to be observed.

No mwana yuno nakhengila ne ali ario, kabali wandaye achumanga ali enje ne mala wandaye kombakhe enju mungo.

After this child being circumcised, his brother who works out, but he has built a house in their homestead.

Enju nga wandaye ne kombakhe mungo liabechanga riri.

Since the brother build the house, it used to be this way.

Nali siachumo, namwe nali nge Ebukanda, namwe nali nga America namwe nali nga Ethiopia, efwefwe khwabonanga khuri; omwana yuno nebombakhe enju mlamuwe ne kengisia babukulanga khana khano khacha khakona munju nende mlamuwe bengisia enju.

If he is at his place of work, or in Uganda or in America or in Ethiopia, we used to perceive it like, when the house has been built and his in-law is conducting a house warming party, they used to take this child to sleep in that house, together with her in-law for a house warming event.

Awenao aba kumusango kwe babukusu kwawele wandaye ne kecha munju omuo akonamo busa, aba likhuwa lilindi mbao tawe.

At that point the Bukusu rites would have been performed and when his elder brother comes back, he will just sleep in that house there will be no other issue.

Ne omwana oyo naliario ne khane lifwa licha limunyola, namwe khangobolekho anyuma.

And when death finds that child, or, let me go back a little.

Nekengisia enju ario, mulamuwe nisio kamukholelanga yesi amutenda sa nge kakhatendile omusecha wewe.

As they do the house warming party, what his in-law used to do for him would just be the same way she could have done to her husband.

Kera engokho, kafuka busuma, balia ne mulamuwe bamala, kakhalila bulili khakona ne yesi acha muse.

She slaughters a chicken, prepares ugali, they eat together with the in-law, prepares the bed for him to sleep as she retires to her bed too.

Awenao khwalanganga khuli sitali nisio sitanda.

We used to call that [sitali] the bed.

Lelo balanga bali sitanda nefwe khale khwalanganga khuli sitali.

Nowadays they call it bed, and during our days we called it [sitali].

Kachile khukona khusitali siewe.

She has gone to sleep on her [sitali/bed].

Na awenao bakhakhualila asi kurungeti busa kuong’ene nokona, akhakhualilao likunia.

Even if they placed a blanket on the floor, you could just sleep on it, or maybe they put down a sack.

Na awenao kamakunia kabechanga ke kamakonge, ata khwengilangamo busa.

Those days sacks were made from sisal fibres at times we used to enter inside the sacks.

Wingila sa mwikunia lie likonge elio okona likhuuna newe wakonile namwe liafu elio okonamo noyusia lundi lubeka wibimba.

You just enter that sisal-fibre sack, it pricks but you are asleep, you sleep in and change to other side to cover your body (like a blanket).

Ne nga khwabechanga khurio yaba omwana yuno khane khinda kumuyaka kwicha kumunyola nobona bali musani afwile.

And as we were like that, by bad luck, this child gets a serious sickness and you hear that a man has died.

“Eeh, bali musani afwile?” “Eeh, omwana wa Makokha mala bali musani afwile.”

"Eeh! a man has died?" "Eeh! the son to Makokha, who is a grown up man died."

Yabechanga omwana yuno kafwile ne nanyolile engubo ya papa ekhale.

It was that this child died when he has found the father's cloth(wear) old.

Yabechanga omwana oyuno nakhengila ta mala kafwa bamulanganga bali walimusinde, bamulanganga bali walimusinde.

And it was that when this child died before before circumcised, they used to call him uncircumcised.

Omwana oyuno akhanyola engubo ya papa ta.

This child has not found the father's cloth.

Nga kabechanga kario, eeeh, omwana yuno ne kolile aundu ne kenya khubeya ne mala bulibung’ali yabechanga khale ata onyola sa omulosi ewewe ata kumoyo akala lukanile sekulimo ta namwe kalolelela omwana yuno anyala kaba nende buri.

As it was so, as this child reaches the time to marry, and it is true those days you just find a woman even if you are not interested, or she looks at this child and realises that she is afraid

Nobona baloma bali, “Eeh, bayee, mba ne omwana mungo muno, oyo omwana wa lebe oyo kamani kakhila, aah, baye khaba naba ne lichembe liecha omwana oyo kecha kandimila mungo muno."

Then you hear them say, if I had a child, that son to someone has a lot of energy, I wish I had a hoe so that child can come and dig this compound for me.

Aba awenao mayi alikho akhuselelela, kenya amanye ewewe oli kholomakho si.

Your mother will be testing you in order to know what you will be thinking.

Aba alikhokhakhuselelela.

She will be seducing for you.

Ne siselelo sia khale siabiriranga khubasasi.

Those days wooing was through parents.

Namwe obona ali, “aah, papa, ese mungo mwa lebe omu, lebe omulayi niye khwasimana khwama khale.

Or she will say, "son, that home is good because we have good friendship with them for a long time.

Papa sobukula omwana womundu oyu khwecha omwana womundu yuno khweikekhana naye niye aba bulebe bwefwe buendelea."

Son, why can't you take that person's daughter, we bond to ensure our friendship continues."

Mala bung'ali ne bung'ali yaba nolondo liomusasi nga nalikho nakhubolela ario khale siselelo siabechanga sirio.

And it was true, when you follow what your parent tells you, wooing was like that in those days.

Ne ewe ocha obeya mungo mwenomu.

Then you go and marry from that home.

Mala nganobeya mungo mwenomu khubola bung'ali nelicha linyolekhana mbo wibulamo lulwibulo lwoo lwicha lulama ne obona, “Senakhubolela papa, makhua kachichanga kario.”

And as you marry from that home, sincerely speaking, it comes to be known that to sire children and your generation lasts,"I told you son, that is how things are done."

Yabechanga ne bili birio ata obona sa papa womukhana namwe mayi womukhana saa yote aruma omwana yuno mungo mwenywe, aruma omwana yuno mungo mwenywe.

When it was like that you just see the father or mother to the girl every time sending this girl in your home.

Manya sa oli sanamurumanga ta!

Just knowing she was not being sent for nothing.

Eli nge ewe newabaya kubwa kurafu mungo yakonile namwe chingokho chikhola kwe! kwe! kwe! sosikayo oli sia!

Just same way, when you have a harsh dog in your compound and it will be sleeping then you hear the chicken making noise, you will send the dog to check what is the matter.

Walobakhusikakhoyo embwa yoo eyo nga nelirio emanya kweli?

If you cannot send that dog, will it really know?

Semanya tawe.

It will not know.

Mpaka lazima enenyukha yenyusia kamaru yalolayo eri noloma oli, “Pooh! khane namenya nende embwa mungo muno.”

It must lift its ears and stand up looking at the noise's direction, for you to be contended that you have a dog, it is true I stay with a good dog in this home.

Nomwana omusani wesi nebakhubolela bario mala waba omumbelekeu khaba mukhana oyuno kecha noloma oli, “Ewe Nasike?”

As a man when you are told that, and you are tough, when this girl comes and you call her "hey, Nasike?"

Yabechanga awenao kamasina kefwe matyukha ako khwalangana Nasike, Nangila, Nafula, Wakhuloma, Nabwile, nanu, kabechanga kario niko kamasina kamakhale.

Those were the names we were called, we used to call each other, Nasike, Nangila, Nafula Wakhuloma, Nabwile, were the names for those days.

Nobona mbo, “Ewe, Nakhanu, sewimakho orio nakhubolelakho?”

You just say, like "hey, Nakhanu, could you please stand there for a moment, I'll tell you something."

Namwe, atime ebweni omukhana yuno nasili mungo mwabwe nacha kekisa mubwonga.

Or, he runs ahead when this girl is still in their home and he hides in tall grass.

Yaba awenao chibonga, lubembe yaba awenao lwakhila ta! ta! ta! ta!

The tall grass was a lot during this time.

Omundu nekekisilemo khaba somanya ta.

You cannot tell when someone hides in it.

Nono kane nga omukhana oyuno kecha, nobona kenyokha mulebembe asakasia lubembe kenyokha alola ari.

You will see him shake the grass and stand up and look when this girl comes.

Ne omukhana yesi nali omukesi namanya sa ali mayi nga kandumanga eneno namwe omusoleli oyuno nga atimile kecha ebweni ari, omusoleli oyuno kanyenya.

If the girl was smart, she would be able to tell that the mother sends her over and the boy runs infront of her because he is interested in her.

Kane obone awenao yaba khuoyana khwabechanga musiri.

During this time, courting was a secret.

Yabechanga nga sai ta, bwe chirupia ta.

It was not like today, it was not money oriented.

Obona omwana omukhana awenao otima omwetilakho, “Basie ewe Kundu, basie Kundu ewe wenya oriena?” Baasi, na aba salikhayokela ta.

When you touched a girl during that time, she would just say, "Kundu, Kundu what do you want?" She was not making any screams or noise.

Aba yesi alakhukhakanga kenya amanye oli oriena siselelo siachichanga sirio ne licha linyola khane wayilile omwana wo omundu mungo omuomuo.

She would also be testing you to see what kind of man are you, courting was like that, then it happens that you have married someone's girl from that home.

Ne nge kabechanga kario khwakonanga mubakukhu, nga khwakonanga mubakukhu khwechanga kukhu akhuwa chilomo, akhupila chingano, akhuelesia kiminai, yaba nokhakanile kumunai mungo mwa kukhuo sokona ta.

And when it was like this, we used to sleep at grandmother's place, and when we were sleeping at our grandmother's place we were coming for grandmother to tell us stories and riddles if you did not tell a riddle, you were not supposed to sleeep at your grandmother's place.

Ne mala lundi nga biabechanga birio yaba wicha ne sichenga.

And when it was like that, you carry something with you.

Onabona ocha emaika oora kumulilo wechile ne sichenga sioo niko embakha yecha yabakhoo.

When you go near the fire to warm yourself, it means you had come with something.

Khwecha khwabakho nende omubunge wefwe kumwaka kwa sabini na tisa, khwecha khwamunyola.

We had our member of parliament in the year 1979, we came and found him.

Nono esese Alita Makokha kakase kawelelekho ao.

I, Alita Makokha, that is the end of my story.