Baringo: Locals hold meat-eating ceremony to mark end of circumcision season

As the curtains fell with more than 5,000 morans 'graduating' to mark the end of the circumcision period among the Ilchamus  community, a meat-eating ceremony was held to mark the celebrations.

In a colourful ceremony held in Meisori, Baringo South, the ceremony, referred to as Lmuget lo Nkweny (Meat eating ceremony) was marked  through singing and dancing, ushering in a new set of generation for the next decade.

During the ceremony, elders surround the traditional brew and speak blessings to the new graduates, who according to ilchamus culture, will be the community 'army'.

The impartation of blessings marks the beginning of the day-long event.

 Morans in different kraal begin the slaughtering of goats and roasting for the feast.

The roasted meat is then taken to a secluded place only meant for community elders and morans.

Women are not allowed in and the meat reserved for women in such occasions is matumbo and they follow the event from a distance.

The significance of this tradition according to the ilchamus elders is it is a way of bringing up a new generation where discipline is paramount and no other member of the community will be circumcised for the next 10  years, "lest he be cursed". 

The climax of this ceremony is characterised by songs and dances, as the morans sing songs of praise to their cows, with others using this occasion to showcase their dancing skills.

According to the elders, this ceremony brings to an end a season which then becomes closed for the next generation.