This archive report was first published on 9 November 2019.
Published on November 9, 2019, a shocking tradition has been revealed in the Bukusu community of Western Kenya.
According to the tradition, men who live past 100 years from the time they were circumcised are supposed to be killed.
‘Tradition dictates that a man should not live until the next cycle of his age set. Each age set takes a period of 10 years and circumcision is normally done in even years. There are eight age groups in the Bukusu traditions identified through circumcision rites. Each age group starts afresh after all age groups have undergone a full cycle of 10 years,’ Misiko, an elder from the region, explained.
When a man reaches this milestone, a ritual is performed to appease the spirits of ancestors. A sheep is slaughtered, and its blood is sprinkled on the ground. Some of the meat is given to dogs, while the rest is roasted and served with traditional food. The elders also eat herbs after performing the ritual.
One possible fate for a man who lives past 100 years is to be left in a forest alone without food, where he would likely starve to death.
