Circumcision in Africa

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Circumcision in Africa, and the rites of initiation in Africa, as well as "the frequent resemblance between details of ceremonial procedure in areas thousands of kilometres apart, indicate that the circumcision ritual has an old tradition behind it and in its present form is the result of a long process of development." [1]

Contents

Cultural background

9-10-year-old boys of the Yao tribe in Malawi participating in circumcision and initiation rites Initiation ritual of boys in Malawi.jpg
9–10-year-old boys of the Yao tribe in Malawi participating in circumcision and initiation rites

Certain African cultural groups, such as the Yoruba and the Igbo of Nigeria, customarily circumcise their infant sons. The procedure is also practiced by some cultural groups or individual family lines in Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and in southern Africa. For some of these groups, circumcision appears to be purely cultural, done with no particular religious significance or intention to distinguish members of a group. For others, circumcision might be done for purification, or it may be interpreted as a mark of subjugation. Among these groups, even when circumcision is done for reasons of tradition, it is often done in hospitals. [2]

The Xhosa community practice circumcision as a sacrifice. In doing so, young boys will announce to their family members when they are ready for circumcision by singing. The sacrifice is the blood spilt during the initiation procedure. Young boys will be considered an "outsiders" unless they undergo circumcision. [3] It is not clear how many deaths and injuries result from non-clinical circumcisions. [4]

History

North Africa

Algeria

At Oued Djerat, in Algeria, engraved rock art with masked bowmen, which feature male circumcision and may be a scene involving ritual, have been dated to earlier than 6000 BP amid the Bubaline Period; [5] more specifically, while possibly dating much earlier than 10,000 BP, rock art walls from the Bubaline Period have been dated between 9200 BP and 5500 BP. [6] The cultural practice of circumcision may have spread from the Central Sahara, toward the south in Sub-Saharan Africa and toward the east in the region of the Nile. [5]

Egypt

Ancient Egyptian carved scene of circumcision, from the inner northern wall of the Temple of Khonspekhrod at the Precinct of Mut, Luxor, Egypt. Eighteenth dynasty, Amenhotep III, c. 1360 BCE. Circumcision Precinct of Mut.png
Ancient Egyptian carved scene of circumcision, from the inner northern wall of the Temple of Khonspekhrod at the Precinct of Mut, Luxor, Egypt. Eighteenth dynasty, Amenhotep III, c. 1360 BCE.

Based on engraved evidence found on walls and evidence from mummies, circumcision has been dated to at least as early as 6000 BCE in ancient Egypt. [7]

Ancient Egyptian mummies, which have been dated as early as 4000 BCE, show evidence of having undergone circumcision. [8] [9]

At the mastaba of Ankhmahor in Saqqara, an engraved wall provides an account of Uha, dated to the 23rd century BCE, which indicates that he and others underwent male circumcision. [8] [5]

Herodotus (5th century BCE) indicated that the ancient Egyptians, at-large, practiced circumcision; he also indicated that ancient Ethiopians practiced circumcision. [10]

Xanthus of Lydia (5th century BCE) indicated that female circumcision was practiced among the ancient Egyptians. [10]

Agatharchides of Cnidus (2nd century BCE) indicated that "troglodyte" ethnic groups practiced circumcision; these groups may have resided along the African coast of the Red Sea in southern Egypt or near the Gulf of Zula in present-day Eritrea; while most of these groups practiced a form of circumcision that involved partial excision, the ethnic group, identified by Agatharchides as the "Colobi" ("the mutilated"), were indicated to have practiced a form of circumcision that involved total excision. [10]

A papyrus, which was part of the Serapeum's Ptolemaios archive at Memphis and has been dated to 163 BCE, indicated that an ancient Egyptian girl, Tathemis, was scheduled to undergo female circumcision. [10]

Philo of Alexandria (1st century BCE) indicated that the ancient Egyptians practiced circumcision. [10]

Between 60 BCE and 56 BCE, Diodorus Siculus indicated that female circumcision was a common custom in ancient Egypt. [10]

Between 29 BCE and 26 BCE, Strabo indicated that the ancient Egyptians practiced circumcision. [10]

Galen of Pergamum (2nd century CE) indicated that female circumcision was practiced among the ancient Egyptians. [10]

Soranus of Ephesus (2nd century CE) indicated that female circumcision was practiced among the ancient Egyptians. [10]

Aëtius of Amida (5th century CE) indicated that female circumcision was practiced among the ancient Egyptians. [10]

Leo Africanus (16th century CE) indicated female circumcision was practiced among Egyptians. [10]

West Africa

Sierra Leone

The Nomoli figurines, which were created by the Mende people in Sierra Leone and depict male circumcised genitalia, [11] have been dated between the 7th century CE and the 8th century CE. [12]

Central Africa

Prior to 300 CE, male circumcision, which is a cultural practice that is part of male initiations, is estimated to have existed in Africa for more than 9000 years. [13] By 300 CE, male initiation and male circumcision had ceased among some matrilineal Bantu-speaking peoples in East Africa and Central Africa. [13]

East Africa

Prior to 300 CE, male circumcision, which is a cultural practice that is part of male initiations, is estimated to have existed in Africa for more than 9000 years. [13] By 300 CE, male initiation and male circumcision had ceased among some matrilineal Bantu-speaking peoples in East Africa and Central Africa. [13]

Eritrea

Agatharchides of Cnidus (2nd century BCE) indicated that "troglodyte" ethnic groups practiced circumcision; these groups may have resided along the African coast of the Red Sea in southern Egypt or near the Gulf of Zula in present-day Eritrea; while most of these groups practiced a form of circumcision that involved partial excision, the ethnic group, identified by Agatharchides as the "Colobi" ("the mutilated"), were indicated to have practiced a form of circumcision that involved total excision. [10]

Southern Africa

South Africa

In the 19th century CE, Shaka, a Zulu king, prohibited male circumcision due to concerns that young circumcised men might be less interested in joining as warriors in the military force he was amassing and uniting in the region of southern Africa and might be more interested in seeking opportunities for having sex. [14]

Percentage of circumcision per country

Circumcision is prevalent among 92% of men in North Africa and around 62% in Sub-Saharan Africa. In western and northern parts of Africa it is mainly performed for religious reasons, whereas in southern parts of Africa it rarely performed in neonates, instead being a rite of passage into manhood. [15]

Studies evaluating the complications due to traditional male circumcision have found rates varying from 35% (Kenya) to 48% (South Africa). Infection, delayed wound healing, glans amputation and injury, bleeding, loss of penile sensitivity, excessive removal of foreskin, and death are the major complications reported. [16]

In some African and Eastern Christian denominations male circumcision is an integral or established practice, and require that their male members undergo circumcision. [17] Circumcision is near-universal among Coptic Christians, Ethiopian Orthodox and Eritrean Orthodox, and they practice circumcision as a rite of passage. [18] [19]

North Africa

Algeria

The male child circumcision rate in Algeria is around 97.9%. [20]

Egypt

Coptic Children wearing traditional circumcision costumes Coptic Children wearing traditional circumcision costumes.jpg
Coptic Children wearing traditional circumcision costumes

The male child circumcision rate in Egypt is around 94%. [20]

Circumcision is near-universal among Coptic Christians, and they practice circumcision as a rite of passage. [21] [22]

Libya

The male circumcision rate in Libya is estimated to be 96.6%. [20]

Morocco

The male circumcision rate in Morocco is estimated to be 99.9%. [20]

Historically, circumcision in Morocco was performed by barbers, but is now done by medical surgeons. The circumcision of Prince Moulay Hassan, almost two years old at the time, prompted thousands of other young boys to be circumcised. The procedure is considered "purification" (t'hara) by Muslims. [23]

Tunisia

The male child circumcision rate in Tunisia is around 99.8%. [20]

Western Sahara

The male circumcision rate in Western Sahara is estimated to be 99.6%. [20]

West Africa

Benin

The male circumcision rate in Benin is estimated to be 92.9%. [20]

Burkina Faso

The male circumcision rate in Burkina Faso is estimated to be 88.3%. [20]

Gambia

The male circumcision rate in The Gambia is estimated to be 94.5%. [20]

Ghana

The male child circumcision rate in Ghana is around 95%, with operations performed in hospitals and clinics. However, there are some variations in the country. For example, circumcision is less common in Ghana's Upper West Region, at 68%. [24]

Guinea

The male circumcision rate in Guinea is estimated to be 84.2%. [20]

Guinea-Bissau

The male circumcision rate in Guinea-Bissau is estimated to be 93.3%. [20]

Ivory Coast

The male circumcision rate in Ivory Coast is around 95%, [25] with operations conducted in hospitals and health clinics.

Liberia

Almost all men (98 percent) in Liberia are circumcised, [26] with operations carried out in hospitals and health clinics.

Mali

The male circumcision rate in Mali is estimated to be 86%. [20]

Mauritania

The male circumcision rate in Mauritania is estimated to be 99.2%. [20]

Niger

The male circumcision rate in Niger is estimated to be 95.5%. [20]

Nigeria

A circumcision operation among the Nupe people A circumcision operation, Nupe, North Nigeria Wellcome M0005294.jpg
A circumcision operation among the Nupe people

The male circumcision rate in Nigeria is estimated to be 98.9%. [20]

Nigerian culture favours circumcising baby boys when they are aged between eight and forty days. [27] Neonatal (child) circumcision is performed on more than 85% of boys in Nigeria, Western Africa, and the majority of procedures are done by nurses (56%) and doctors (35%), with a small proportion (9%) performed by traditional practitioners (2). The reasons are cultural and religious. [28]

Senegal

The male circumcision rate in Senegal is estimated to be 93.5%. [20]

Sierra Leone

The male circumcision rate in Sierra Leone, estimated in 2016, is around 96.1%, [20] with operations carried out in hospitals and health clinics.

Togo

The male circumcision rate in Togo is estimated to be 95.2%. [20]

Central Africa

Cameroon

The male child circumcision rate in Cameroon is around 90%, in common with other countries of West and North Africa, with operations performed in hospitals and clinics. [29]

Central African Republic

The male circumcision rate in the Central African Republic is estimated to be 63%. [20]

Chad

The male circumcision rate in Chad is estimated to be 73.5%. [20]

Democratic Republic of Congo

Mask (Nkota) used in Mukanda circumcision ritual of the Lulua people Mask (nkota) used in circumcision ritual (mukanda) - Lulua - Royal Museum for Central Africa - DSC06276.JPG
Mask (Nkota) used in Mukanda circumcision ritual of the Lulua people

The male circumcision rate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is estimated to be 97.2%. [20]

Equatorial Guinea

The male circumcision rate in Equatorial Guinea is estimated to be 87%. [20]

Gabon

The male circumcision rate in Gabon is estimated to be 99.9%. [20]

Rwanda

The male circumcision rate in Rwanda is estimated to be 13.3%. [20]

Rwanda previously had a lower rate of circumcision, similar to South Africa. In both nations, there has been introduced a "safe" PrePex device which claims to involves no pain nor bleeding. The Government of Rwanda wishes to fight HIV. However, complications have occurred after a few of the circumcisions, including death. Rwanda Ministry of Health denies that the deaths occurred from the result of circumcision. [30]

Republic of Congo

The male circumcision rate in the Republic of the Congo is estimated to be 70%. [20]

South Sudan

The male circumcision rate in the newly established nation state of South Sudan is estimated to be 23.6%. [20]

Agar Dinka do not circumcise. [31]

East Africa

Bantu circumcisions have been declining. [32]

The Luo do not circumcise. [33]

Burundi

The male circumcision rate in Burundi is estimated to be 61.7%. [20]

Djibouti

The male circumcision rate in Djibouti is estimated to be 96.5%. [20]

Ethiopia

The male circumcision rate in Ethiopia is estimated to be 92.2%. [20]

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church calls for circumcision, with near-universal prevalence among Orthodox men in Ethiopia. [34]

Eritrea

The male circumcision rate in Eritrea is estimated to be 97.2%. [20]

Eritrean Orthodox practice circumcision as a rite of passage, and they circumcise their sons "anywhere from the first week of life to the first few years". [35]

Kenya

The male circumcision rate in Kenya is around 84%, with operations performed in hospitals and clinics. [24]

In traditional circumcisions, often the same knife is used for many initiates. [33] [36] This is thought to contribute to the spread of HIV.

In addition to traditional circumcision, the men of Africa enjoyed "benefits" such as young men became members of the warrior class, and were free to date and marry. The graduates became a fraternity which served together, and continued to have mutual obligation to each other for life.

In the modern context in East Africa, the physical element of male circumcision remains (in the societies that have historically practiced it) but without most of the other accompanying rites, context, and programs. For many, the operation is now performed in private on one individual, in a hospital or doctor's office. Anesthesia is often used in such settings. There are tribes, however, that do not accept this modernized practice. They insist on circumcision in a group ceremony, and a test of courage at the banks of a river. This more traditional approach is common amongst the Meru and the Kisii tribes of Kenya. [33] One boy in Meru County, Kenya was assaulted by other boys because they wanted him to be circumcised in a traditional ceremony as opposed to in a hospital. [37] Amongst the Gikuyu (Kikuyu) people of Kenya and the Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania, male circumcision has historically been the graduation element of an educational program which taught tribal beliefs, practices, culture, religion and history to youth who were on the verge of becoming full-fledged members of society. The circumcision ceremony was very public, and required a display of courage under the knife in order to maintain the honor and prestige of the young man and his family. The only form of anesthesia was a bath in the cold morning waters of a river, which tended to numb the senses to a minor degree. The youths being circumcised were required to maintain a stoic expression and not to flinch from the pain. [33]

Despite the loss of the rites and ceremonies that accompanied male circumcision in the past, the physical operation remains crucial to personal identity and pride, and acceptance in society. Uncircumcised men in these communities risk being "outed", and subjected to ridicule as "boys". There have been many cases of forced circumcision of men from such communities who are discovered to have escaped the ritual. Those who do not want to be circumcised seek refuge in Kenya's police stations. [38]

Traditional circumcision is practiced among the Bukusu people of Kenya. [39] [40] [41] [42] Ceremonies usually take place in August. They involve the use of mud. This is used to prevent excessive bleeding after the cut, to prevent wincing, and to commemorate a traditional legend. [43]

Amongst the Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania, male circumcision has historically been the graduation element of an educational program which taught tribal beliefs, practices, culture, religion and history to youth who were on the verge of becoming full-fledged members of society. The circumcision ceremony was very public, and required a display of courage under the knife in order to maintain the honor and prestige of the young man and his family. The only form of anesthesia was a bath in the cold morning waters of a river, which tended to numb the senses to a minor degree. The youths being circumcised were required to maintain a stoic expression and not to flinch from the pain. [33]

The Turkana tribe do not perform ritual circumcision. [38]

Madagascar

The male circumcision rate in the island nation of Madagascar is estimated to be 94.7%. [20]

Mauritius

The male circumcision rate in the island nation of Mauritius is estimated to be 16.6%. [20]

Somalia

The male circumcision rate in Somalia is estimated to be 93.5%. [20]

Tanzania

The male circumcision rate in Tanzania is estimated to be 72%. [20]

In 2015, the Johns Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics, a non profit health association affiliated with Johns Hopkins University, completed a voluntary circumcision project, covering three traditionally non-circumcising Tanzanian regions, Iringa, Njombe and Tabora, which circumcised 400,000 men. It was done in collaboration with the National AIDS Control Programme. They offered the services in 500 health facilities across the three regions. [44]

Mobile health clinics have been launched, funded by USAID, to offer circumcision and sexual health advice to adult men. [45]

Efforts are being made to scale up circumcision where there is low prevalence of circumcision; the areas cited are: Iringa, Tabora, Mbeya, Songwe, Rukwa, Katavi, Shinyanga, Simiyu, Mwanza, Geita, Kagera and Musoma. Following this, Singida, Kigoma, Mara and Morogoro will also see efforts to scale up circumcision [46]

Amongst the Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania, male circumcision has historically been the graduation element of an educational program which taught tribal beliefs, practices, culture, religion and history to youth who were on the verge of becoming full-fledged members of society. The circumcision ceremony was very public, and required a display of courage under the knife in order to maintain the honor and prestige of the young man and his family. The only form of anesthesia was a bath in the cold morning waters of a river, which tended to numb the senses to a minor degree. The youths being circumcised were required to maintain a stoic expression and not to flinch from the pain. [33]

Uganda

The male circumcision rate in Uganda is estimated to be 26.7%. [20]

In Uganda, circumcision is performed for religious, cultural, and medical reasons. Medical related circumcision is mainly to reduce the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus and sexually transmitted illnesses. It is performed by non-physicians, including for infants and neonates. [47]

In Uganda, Sebei, Bagisu, Baamba, and Bakonzo ethnic groups practice TMC. As of 2012, 70% of Ugandan men are not circumcised. Around 10% of Ugandan men belong to groups which practice traditional male circumcision. The age range for eastern Ugandan candidates is relatively older (14–18 years) than that of western Uganda (2–15 years). The cost of TMC varies from UGX 5,000 to 40,000, or approximately US$2.00 to 16.00 (Uganda GDP per capita is US$1,300.00). The candidate's parents are responsible for the payment, although the price is negotiable and depends on the family's financial ability. Those who undertake a hospital circumcision rather than a traditional circumcision are said to be shunned by their community. [16]

The Gisu people of Uganda are closely related to the Bukusu and also practice circumcision. In Uganda, a circumcision ceremony is called Imbalu. [48] [49]

Southern Africa

Bantu circumcisions have been declining. [32]

Angola

The male circumcision rate in Angola is estimated to be 57.5%. [20]

Botswana

The male circumcision rate in Botswana is estimated to be 15.1%. [20]

Comoros

The male circumcision rate in the island nation of The Comoros is estimated to be 99.4%. [20]

Eswatini

The male circumcision rate in Eswatini is estimated to be 8.2%. [20]

Lesotho

The male circumcision rate in Lesotho is estimated to be 52%. [20]

Malawi

The male circumcision rate in Malawi is estimated to be 21.6%. [20]

In the South of Malawi, the Yao and Lomwe tribes practice tribal circumcision. There are fears that there is a heightened risk of spreading human immunodeficiency virus as the surgeons use the same blade and encourage boys to have sex with women after the ceremony. [50]

Mozambique

The male circumcision rate in Mozambique is estimated to be 47.4%. [20]

Namibia

The male circumcision rate in Namibia is estimated to be 25.5%. [20]

South Africa

The male circumcision rate in South Africa is estimated to be 44.7%. [20]

In some South African ethnic groups, circumcision has roots in several belief systems, and is performed most of the time on teenage boys:

The young men in the eastern Cape belong to the Xhosa ethnic group for whom circumcision is considered part of the passage into manhood. ... A law was recently introduced requiring initiation schools to be licensed and only allowing circumcisions to be performed on youths aged 18 and older. But Eastern Cape provincial Health Department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo told Reuters news agency that boys as young as 11 had died. Each year thousands of young men go into the bush alone, without water, to attend initiation schools. Many do not survive the ordeal. [51]

According to one article, as of December 2015, 10 million men have undergone voluntary circumcision in East and Southern Africa. since 2008. [52]

In 2017, celebrities were recruited to launch the "man up" campaign to encourage more men to get circumcised. [53]

South Africa refuses infant circumcisions, but with mixed reception. [54] Additionally, they have boycotted "Do-It-Yourself" Circumcision devices, but only the ones made in Israel which was part of an already-existing boycott of Israel. [55]

Zambia

The male circumcision rate in Zambia is estimated to be 12.8%. [20]

In Zambia there is a circumcision programme underway because some believe it could reduce the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus. [56]

Zimbabwe

The male circumcision rate in Zimbabwe is estimated to be 9.2%. [20]

Circumcision to prevent the spread of human immunodeficiency virus in Africa

WHO identified 14 countries with high rates of heterosexual human immunodeficiency virus transmission and historically low levels of male circumcision coverage (nationally or sub-nationally), and were priorities for scale-up. They are Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Eswatini, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. From 2008 to mid-2014, around 5.8 million men were circumcised as part of an effort to prevent HIV. [57]

PEPFAR (the US President's Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief) supported over 15 million circumcisions in 14 countries in Southern and Eastern Africa from 2007 to 2017. [58] [59]

In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) reiterated that male circumcision is an efficacious intervention for HIV prevention if carried out by medical professionals under safe conditions. [60]

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The Ndut is a rite of passage as well as a religious education commanded by Serer religion that every Serer must go through once in their lifetime. The Serer people being an ethnoreligious group, the Ndut initiation rite is also linked to Serer culture. From the moment a Serer child is born, education plays a pivotal role throughout their life cycle. The ndut is one of these phases of their life cycle. In Serer society, education lasts a lifetime, from infancy to old age.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulwaluko</span> Traditional phallus cutting and initiation into manhood, practised throughout South Africa

Ulwaluko, traditional circumcision and initiation from childhood to adulthood, is an ancient initiation rite practised by the Xhosa people, and is commonly practised throughout South Africa. The ritual is traditionally intended as a teaching institution, to prepare young males for the responsibilities of manhood. Therefore, initiates are called abakhwetha in isiXhosa: aba means a group, and kwetha means initiate. A single male in the group is known as an umkhwetha. A male who has not undergone initiation is referred to as inkwenkwe (boy), regardless of his age, and is not allowed to take part in male activities such as tribal meetings.

<i>Lebollo la banna</i> Traditional practice of male initiation

Lebollo la banna is a Sesotho term for male initiation.

A sexual rite of passage is a ceremonial event that marks the passage of a young person to sexual maturity and adulthood, or a widow from the married state to widowhood, and involves some form of sexual activity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Views on circumcision</span> Cultural, social and religious views

Circumcision has played a significant cultural, social, and religious role in various global cultures over the course of world history. This has subsequently led to widely varying views related to the practice.

References

  1. ↑ Wagner, Günter (1949). "Circumcision And Initiation Rites" (PDF). The Bantu of North Kavirondo: Volume 1. Oxford University Press. p. 335. doi:10.4324/9780429485817. ISBN   9780429485817.
  2. ↑ "Circumcision". Encyclopedia of Religion (2 ed.). Gale. 2005.
  3. ↑ Pathisa N (2008). Zimbabwe's Cultural Heritage. amabooks. pp. 60–61. ISBN   9780797445048. Archived from the original on 14 January 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  4. ↑ Fogg, Ally (25 August 2014). "The death and deformity caused by male circumcision in Africa can't be ignored". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 March 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 Campbell, Alec; Coulson, David (2010). "Big Hippo Site, Oued Afar, Algeria" (PDF). Sahara. 21: 85, 90–91. ISSN   1120-5679. S2CID   191103812. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-10-26. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  6. ↑ Soukopova, Jitka (August 2017). "Central Saharan rock art: Considering the kettles and cupules". Journal of Arid Environments. 143: 12. Bibcode:2017JArEn.143...10S. doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2016.12.011. S2CID   132225521.
  7. ↑ Al-Salem, Ahmed H. (November 8, 2016). "Male Circumcision". An Illustrated Guide to Pediatric Urology. Springer Cham. p. 480. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-44182-5_22. ISBN   978-3-319-44182-5. S2CID   79015190.
  8. 1 2 Gollaher, David (2000). "The Jewish Tradition" (PDF). Circumcision: A History Of The World's Most Controversial Surgery. Basic Books. pp. 2–3. ISBN   0-465-02653-2. S2CID   68860890.
  9. ↑ Dobanovački, Dušanka; et al. (2012). "Surgery Before Common Era (B.C.E.*)" (PDF). Archive of Oncology. 20 (1–2): 29. doi:10.2298/AOO1202028D. S2CID   53008076.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Huebner, Sabine R. (2009). "Female Circumcision as a Rite de Passage in Egypt—Continuity through the Millennia?". Journal of Egyptian History. 2 (1): 156–166. doi:10.1163/187416509X12492786609249. S2CID   161573169.
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  12. ↑ Atherton, John H.; Milan, Kalous (July 1970). "Nomoli". Journal of African History. 11 (3): 303–317. doi:10.1017/S0021853700010161. S2CID   241833023.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Ahmed-Saidi, Christine (December 7, 2020). "Family and Community Life". Daily Life of Women: An Encyclopedia from Ancient Times to the Present. ABC-CLIO. p. 375. ISBN   9781440846939.
  14. ↑ Cox, Guy; Morris, Brian J. (May 17, 2012). "Why Circumcision: From Prehistory to the Twenty-First Century". Surgical Guide to Circumcision. Springer. p. 245. doi:10.1007/978-1-4471-2858-8_21. ISBN   978-1-4471-2858-8. S2CID   160513261.
  15. ↑ Taiwo Lawal; et al. (April 2017). "Circumcision and its effects in Africa". Translational Andrology and Urology. 6 (2): 149–157. doi: 10.21037/tau.2016.12.02 . PMC   5422680 . PMID   28540221.
  16. 1 2 Sarvestani; et al. (17 October 2012). "Traditional Male Circumcision in Uganda: A Qualitative Focus Group Discussion Analysis". PLOS ONE. 7 (10): e45316. Bibcode:2012PLoSO...745316S. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045316 . PMC   3474774 . PMID   23082112.
  17. ↑ Pitts-Taylor, Victoria (2008). Cultural Encyclopedia of the Body [2 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. p. 394. ISBN   9781567206913. For most part, Christianity does not require circumcision of its followers. Yet, some Orthodox and African Christian groups do require circumcision. These circumcisions take place at any point between birth and puberty.
  18. ↑ N. Stearns, Peter (2008). The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern World. Oxford University Press. p. 179. ISBN   9780195176322.
  19. ↑ Pitts-Taylor, Victoria (2008). Cultural Encyclopedia of the Body [2 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. p. 394. ISBN   9781567206913.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 Morris, Brian J; et al. (March 1, 2016). "Estimation of country-specific and global prevalence of male circumcision: Table 1, Percentage of circumcised males in each of the 237 countries and territories in the world". Population Health Metrics. 14 (4): 4. doi: 10.1186/s12963-016-0073-5 . PMC   4772313 . PMID   26933388. S2CID   23749299.
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  22. ↑ "Circumcision". Columbia Encyclopedia. Columbia University Press. 2011. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
  23. ↑ "Mass Circumcision in Morocco". Fox News . 25 March 2015.
  24. 1 2 "Neonatal and child male circumcision: a global review" (PDF). World Health Organization . April 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  25. ↑ "HIV Prevalence by Region - 12 African "PEPFAR Focus" Countries (page 11) - Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)" (PDF). New Paradigm Fund. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 April 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  26. ↑ "Liberia 2007 Demographic and Health Survey - Key Findings - HIV/AIDS-Related Behavior (page 13) - Male circumcision" (PDF). Liberia Demographic and Health Survey (LDHS). 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
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  29. ↑ Ernest Kenu; Tin Tin Sint; Claude Kamenga; Rene Ekpini (July 2016). "Early Infant Male Circumcision in Cameroon and Senegal: Demand, Service Provision, and Cultural Context". Global Health: Science and Practice. 4 (Suppl 1): S18–S28. doi: 10.9745/GHSP-D-15-00185 . PMC   4944576 . PMID   27413080.
  30. ↑ "Rwanda: Families blame Circumcision for Death of Children".
  31. ↑ Rone, Jemera (1996). Behind the Red Line: Political Repression in Sudan. Human Rights Watch. p. 317. ISBN   9781564321640.
  32. 1 2 Marck, Jeff (1997). "Aspects of male circumcision in sub- equatorial African culture history" (PDF). Health Transition Review. 7: 337–360. PMID   10173099. S2CID   22132566.
  33. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Marck, Jeff (1997). "Aspects of male circumcision in sub-equatorial African culture history" (PDF). Health Transition Review. 7 (Supplement): 337–359. PMID   10173099. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-09-06. Retrieved 2015-08-03.
  34. ↑ "Male circumcision: Global trends and determinants of prevalence, safety and acceptability" (PDF). World Health Organization. 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 December 2015.
  35. ↑ DeMello, Margo (2007). Encyclopedia of Body Adornment. ABC-Clio. p. 66. ISBN   9780313336959. Coptic Christians, Ethiopian Orthodox, and Eritrean Orthodox churches on the other hand, do observe the ordainment, and circumcise their sons anywhere from the first week of life to the first few years.
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  37. ↑ "Class 7 pupil injured after forceful traditional circumcision attempt by other boys". Youtube. Kenya Television Network. 20 August 2014.
  38. 1 2 "Two Kenyan tribes divided by the festival of circumcision". Independent.co.uk . 2014-08-12.
  39. ↑ "Circumcision rite among the Bukusu of western Kenya". Youtube. Kenya Broadcasting Corporation. 12 August 2014.
  40. ↑ "Bukusu Post-Circumcision Rites Continue 3 Months After 'Cut'". Youtube. K24. 21 December 2014.
  41. ↑ "Traditional circumcision season stirs excitement in Bukusu land". Youtube. NTV. 9 August 2014.
  42. ↑ "Luhya, Bukusu in Kenya". Joshua Project.
  43. ↑ "SAIJIKI FOR KENYA AND TROPICAL REGIONS". kenyasaijiki blog. 21 February 2005.
  44. ↑ "Use of circumcision to fight Aids". The Citizen. 9 January 2015.
  45. ↑ "Huge turnout for male circumcision". 14 July 2019.
  46. ↑ Oforo, Valentine (12 September 2017). "Govt has no mandate to force all men to be circumcised". The Citizen.
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  49. ↑ "Cut it!...Imbalu Ceremony". The Brett Diaspora Blog. 26 January 2009.
  50. ↑ Kijimwana Mhango, Henry (23 August 2019). "Fears spread over HIV risk in Malawi's circumcision camps". The Telegraph.
  51. ↑ "South Africa circumcision deaths". BBC Online. 15 July 2003. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
  52. ↑ "Africa: 10 Million Circumcised in East, Southern Africa". allafrica.com/. 4 December 2015.
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  54. ↑ "Child Protection South Africa | Circinfo.org". www.circinfo.org. Retrieved 2022-05-06.
  55. ↑ "Deisi - Fighting for Truth". Archived from the original on 2016-04-04. Retrieved 2016-05-26.
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