A Bilingual Study of a Ritual Circumcision Song of the Agikuyu of Kenya: Muumburo Na Maambura Ma Irua

With Gikuyu and English texts presented on facing pages, this volume explores the practice and cultural meaning of male and female ritual circumcision as revealed in an ancient circumcision song of the Gikuyu people of Kenya. Independent researcher Osotsi also seeks to explore the way the song is used as a manner of education through ritual. The bulk of the text is taken up by the bi-lingual presentation of 489 stanzas of the Muumburo na Irua . Before the presentation of the stanzas she explains the context of the ritual and argues that it plays a vital part in the transition to adulthood among those who have retained traditional cultural values. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)