A critical study of the literariness of bamasaba circumcision rituals

Abstract

This study explored the literariness of Bamasaaba circumcision rituals and songs. It analysed the performance symbols of the rituals and the literary language of the circumcision songs. The study was field based and used qualitative methods of data collection and analysis. It employed formalism literary theory to analyse the performance symbols of circumcision rituals and literary language of the songs. The findings depict Bamasaaba circumcision rituals as an exhibition of the society’s innermost values and norms such as society’s expectations of a man. It was also found out that the literary language employed in the songs contributes to the understanding of the people’s experiences, values and norms. The circumcision rituals are performed for cultural reasons. They are performed to ensure continuity of the Bamasaaba traditional norms and values. The study therefore concludes that Bamasaaba circumcision rituals plays not only the easthetic but also a didactic role of transfering the society’s values and norms to the young generation. These rituals should not therefore be perceived as evil and scary because if one critically analyses their symbolic meaning, one realizes that they are worth it. The actual circumcision without the rituals is meaningless and for that reason one can not be considered a complete man among the Bamasaaba.