Rite of Passage: Thousands of Maragoli boys pass out at cultural festival

Some of the boys who attended the rite of passage ceremony at Mbale Municipality Grounds. [Brian Kisanji, Standard]

It is pomp and color as thousands of initiates congregate at Mbale town in Vihiga county for their circumcision rite of passage ceremony.

Dressed in new white shirts and black trousers the new men in town are carrying their traditional sticks (mdondo) to signify their newfound status in society.

This is the most important event among the Maragoli clan as the boys transition from childhood to adulthood.

The Maragoli community of Luhya tribe names their age set based on circumcision rites.

Some of the elders who attended the rite of passage ceremony at Mbale Municipality Grounds. [Brian Kisanji, Standard]

The ceremony is being marked during the 44th Annual Maragoli Cultural Festivals at Mbale Municipal Grounds.

The theme of the 44th Cultural Festival is "Eng'embe Ya Mulogooli" which loosely translates to fit the year of circumcision among the Maragoli Community and thousands of youths will be graduating into adulthood after undergoing the cut in August.

The circumcision rites took place on targeted boys after seven years of waiting since 2016.

Some of the boys who attended the rite of passage ceremony at Mbale Municipality Grounds. [Brian Kisanji, Standard]

In 2021, circumcision was put on hold due to Covid-19 and in 2022, elders decided not to conduct the rites due to General Elections.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi is in attendance where the new age set name was announced.

The 105-year-old Thomas Mage christened the age set as 'Ulumuri' translated as light.

Some of the boys who attended the rite of passage ceremony at Mbale Municipality Grounds. [Brian Kisanji, Standard]

The elders said the name signifies the much-needed unity among the Maragoli people who are spread in many regions around the world.

"We have a new name, which is 'Ulumuri' We pray that this name signifies the good tidings that will accompany these new men in our midst," said Mage.

The naming was overseen by the Maragoli Cultural Society chairman Hezron Shaba who urged the new adults to uphold the Maragoli culture.

The age set names are given concerning the current happenings in the world of Maragoli people.

In 2001, the age set name was 'Liambuka' (millennium) while 2016 was christened 'Irigavura' meaning devolution.