IDNO

N.19450.ROS

Description

The circumcision of two? young Bagesu boys as part of their initiation ceremony. Both boys stand expressionless and erect. The boy to the right appears to have two medicine men? performing the circumcision. The medicine men? are scantily dressed. In the midground there are some plantain leaves on the ground in front of each boy. According to Roscoe’s description, "each leaf was arranged like a dish and in it was put an egg, covered with a thin piece of gourd, and a little water [and] a bunch of sacred herbs” (Roscoe 1924, p. 30): these items are not visible but the plantain leaves on the ground are. There is also a man? to the left in the foreground with a knife? at his? feet. He? wears white cloth and is attending to the Bagesu boy on the left. To the left of the frame is the back of a man? holding a walking stick or umbrella? In the background there is a crowd of "excited admirers...” (Roscoe 1924, p. 30); many hold bamboo or reed sticks in the air.

Place

E Africa; Uganda; Elgon; Mount Elgon

Cultural Affliation

Bagesu

Named Person

Photographer

?Roscoe, John R.

Collector / Expedition

Roscoe, John R. [Mackie Ethnological Expedition, Uganda, 1919 - 1920]

Date

1919 - 1920

Collection Name

Roscoe Collection

Source

Format

Film Negative Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

This negative was kept in a small envelope (C31/76/1/) inside a larger envelope marked C31/76/ by the cataloguer. The envelope was kept in box marked C31/ by the cataloguer.
Previously stored on Shelf 4, in group of 4 wooden boxes numbered 180.

Publication: Image published in Roscoe, J., 1924. The Bagesu and other tribes of the Uganda Protectorate: The Third Part of the Report of the Mackie Ethnological Expedition to Central Africa. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.). p.30, Plate VII, with the caption: "Performing the operation”.
See also: Roscoe, J., 1924. p.30, Plate VII, with the caption: "Taking the oath,” and p. 29, Plate VI, with the captions "Giving the youths roots to chew to strengthen them,” "Instructing the youths upon taking the oath” and p. 32, Plate VIII, with the captions "Performing the operation” and "After the operation.” [ED 17/9/2007]

Context: "Boys had to go through an elaborate ceremony of initiation and circumcision before they were considered fit for marriage or take part in the councils of the men of the clan. No force was employed to induce the boys to undergo this ceremony, but until they had been operated upon, they were regarded as children and might not wear clothing or join the men either in the councils or in beer-drinking. Parents and friends were therefore anxious for the boys to be initiated as early as possible. No account was kept of a child’s age, but as soon as a boy showed signs of reaching puberty, he was told that he should prepare himself to attend the next initiation ceremonies.” (Roscoe 1924, p. 27).
"When the boys were all ready, a medicine-man, who had been concealed in one of the huts, came out with a large knife, which looked anything but aseptic. Approaching the first boy he pulled the foreskin forward as far as it would stretch and cut it off, throwing it at the boy’s feet. He did not stop to examine his work but passed on to the next boy until he had finished the row, when he went away. The boys paid no attention to what was being done but stood with their arms stretched up and each jumped into the air as soon as the man had passed on to the next one. Another medicine man followed with an assistant, who held the penis out at full-length while the medicine man pinched up and cut off every bit of skin except a strip along the passage underneath. This took some minutes for he was quite deliberate and cast each bit of skin on the ground at the boy’s feet as he cut it off. When he had finished the boy had to keep his arms raised and jump into the air coming down upon his own skin and blood and shouting a special cry. Meanwhile old people examined the member to see that the work was properly done.” (Roscoe 1924, p. 31). [ED 17/9/2007]

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Elisabeth Deane 17/9/2007]