Transfer of the Kenyan Kikuyu male circumcision ritual to future generations living in the United States^☆

Abstract

This phenomenological research report from analysis of interviews with 18 participants focuses on the theme of transferring an age-old initiation-into-manhood circumcision ritual to future generations of Kenyan Kikuyu who are living in the US. We identified three subthemes and found a strong indication that, while personally meaningful to the participants, the ritual, its meaning, and its impact likely will dwindle and possibly eventually be eradicated among future Kikuyu generations in America unless there is a concerted effort to shape the initiation rite into a form that they find meaningful.