COVID-19 disrupts Imbalu festival

CULTURE   TOURISM

Simon Mugibi recounts gnashing his teeth as he dug them into a piece of wood wedged between his jaws. Hands are clasped hard at the back of his head, eyes rolling white and looking skyway to avoid seeing at the inyembe (sharp knife) swiftly trimmed off the foreskin of his very sensitive manhood. 

In the time it takes an eye to blink, a stone was placed on the detached piece and the umusinde (boy) was instantly elevated to busani (manhood.)

The seasoned "surgeon" blew a whistle to announce a successful operation. Upon hearing it, Mugibi's mother who was, as culture demands, sitting in a hut with her legs spread apart, nervously sucked in a sigh of relief. 

She jumped to her feet and started dancing while ululating. It was a big day. Her son was given a symbolic chair, to sit before being taken through kusabisa (a purifying ceremony.)

The surgeon with practised expertise meticulously poured millet beer on his head to wash away bisirani (bad omen.) 

One risks becoming a laughing stock and gossip topic for the rest of his life if they show any signs of fear like trembling or sweating profusely as the circumcision is being performed. 

This is the compulsory Imbalu ritual practised among the Bagisu in Eastern Uganda, where more than 1,000 lads are 'cut' every even year.

This July 2020 was supposed to be the climax of this festive season on the slopes of Mount Elgon or anywhere a mugisu lad lives. Culture tourists were warming up for the carnival mood when paths, roads and highways are flooded with young girls vibrating erotically to the Kadodi drum beat. 

They wriggle their waists as if they have rubber pelvic bones, to the admiration and appreciation of onlookers; cash is stuffed in the bra or backside enhancing wrap. 

Housewives are known to leave food burning on stoves when they follow the crowd. The beat puts one in a trance and a jiggy mood. The Bagisu use it to enable the lads get the courage to be circumcised.

This musical beat from Bugisu and Kadodi dance strokes have lately become synonymous with every political or product campaign.

Unfortunately, this year, given the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bagisu are bound to have a year without Imbalu. It may be good news for dodgers because if one is suspected of not being circumcised, he is challenged to undress for inspection in public.

One Mujoloto, who had distanced himself from the knife hit headlines when he was cornered outside Uganda House on Kampala Road and was forcefully circumcised. This followed a pretty woman who befriended him and inspected his manhood.  He was nabbed and 'cut' in broad daylight.

Another dodger, Mugidde, faced the same fate in Kitoro, Entebbe when he was mobbed by seductively Kadodi gyrating girls. In the mob were other tribesmen chanting Seta omwana afana ne baba we (it is time for children to resemble their father.)

Hon Nandala Mafabi and Hon. Werike Gafabusa who hail from Bugisu offered sh500,000 reward to whistleblowers of such Basinde (deserters) This time around, there is no business for spies.

Talking to Steven Masaba of Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), he revealed that given social distancing during COVID-19, orders from Inzu ya ba Masaba (House of Bagisu) ordered the suspension of Imbalu.

"It is some kind of carnival," recounted Masaba with nostalgia.

 "Scientific Imbalu is seen as cowardice, it is supposed to be a family event where relatives, friends, and in-laws congregate to witness and celebrate."

Developed into a tourism product by Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) the venue Mutoto in Mbale has attracted the head of state of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta and Uganda's Yoweri Museveni in the past.