What is Circumcision?

Circumcision is the removal of the foreskin from the human penis. In the most common procedure, the foreskin is opened, adhesions are removed, and the foreskin is separated from the glans. After that, a circumcision device may be placed, and then the foreskin is cut off.

This is quite a description by Wikipedia. Physically that is what happens in Circumcision yet psychologically it goes beyond that. Actually some communities which was never involved in Circumcision has started the practice due to its hygiene and its reduction of HIV/AIDS infection which is more prone in the uncircumcised.

History of circumcision

Circumcision dates far back during Abraham's days when Sarah took a stone and circumcised Abraham, her husband. It was an outward sign of salvation.*

Therefore circumcision is as old as Methuselah yet some communities used different methods like removing of front teeth. They never understood the true essence of circumcision.

5 Reasons for Circumcision in my community

In my community circumcision is not just the act of removing the foreskin but one big initiation programme. It is a ritual which is undertaken with great symbolism.

• Initiates are trained on adulthood roles and responsibilities. They pass from being children into adulthood. It is better to understand what the future has in store for them.

• Initiates learn the taboos, customs and values of the community. They learn all that pertains to keeping law and order in the community. The customs normally makes the culture of a community. The laws and rules are passed down to the initiates.

• The initiates learn to socialize. In seclusion, they are made into age-sets and age-groups. Any group circumcized at a particular time are given a group name. They do things together. The age-groups significally mark periods in the community life.

• Circumcision was a period when one understood if they were men enough. They were examined and it was easy to understand if they were sexually active.

• Circumcision period was a time when good morals we're heralded and bad ones scorned. This was done in songs composed for the same. Anybody who did bad was scorned in songs.

Circumcision was not only to remove the foreskin but a learning process.