The local village 'surgeon' is an enigma

In some African communities the circumcision season which comes up after a long wait of not less than seven years culminates into a month long season full of activity. The local expert in this trade is both a mythical and revered personality by members of the local community. A specialist in his trade, the man has his ancestry come within a family and clan lineage-linked to generations who produce people skilled in the art of circumcision. Not being born from this blocks one from becoming a circumcision specialist which is considered to be their preserve. Rumour has it that he also doubles up as a local surgeon. He can perform minor surgical operations outside the precincts of a formal hospital. Since there must always be at least one in the society at all times as such succession planning for them is also orderly and well managed to avoid leaving any vacuum for this critical service. When the occupant of the role within any community begins to display signs of incapacitation, thus rendering them unable to handle this critical function anymore, it is a requirement for him to name a successor. If by some unfortunate circumstances the office falls vacant and there is no successor at hand, the clan elders will immediately convene a meeting to appoint his successor. Legend has it that some take up the trade by premonition.

 When identified via supernatural communication, the clan elders have no option but to endorse the new circumciser in chief. To them, the choice made by the supernatural is final as such the gods cannot be challenged by those in the natural. The newly anointed heir has got no options more so for those picked up supernaturally. Even if they are engaged in some other career form elsewhere, supernatural circumstances will drive them home when the season beckons. A few days before the ceremony, one will suddenly without prompting become obsessed by the desire to circumcise. Those in the trade would find a way not to offend the gods and to avoid getting embarrassed before their employers will seek for leave, early enough to go attend to this critical cultural practice. Stories doing the rounds have it the urge in them to circumcise is so powerful that just meeting with uncircumcised persons is enough to prompt him to without permission pick the next available knife and forcibly carry out the exercise on them irrespective of location or the law s of the land etc. Just in case this happened the locals will understand and not judge them harshly since he is anointed to carry out the trade and that the individual does not have much power to control his actions. It is thus expected that all including the governing authorities should understand that these are cultural matters that are driven by a higher power and that it is the circumcision season and the spirit is in the air.

 In most homesteads discussions are held in hushed tones about how this circumciser in chief hardly sleeps as he is designed to stay in a kind of hypnotized state till the season is over and will only revert to normalcy when the exercise and season are over. For a whole month, they will be engaged travelling long distances crossing ridges and valleys to attend to their clients. The preferred mode of transport is on foot and during odd times since he should not be meeting many people during this time. Theirs is a duty that involves the shedding of human blood. For this reason, few people would even dare want to meet him leave alone greet and engage in any conversation with them. The women folk are usually advised to try to keep the furthest distance since this is purely a male person business. Besides his unique trade, this circumciser in chief has specially chosen attire during this period. It is specifically used to distinguish him as one performing a rare but critical function in society. The unique attire at times may be in the form of a bizarre dressing code with eye-catching but intimidating colours, a special hat that he alone understands the design or a special wrist band and such other distinguishing features further compounding his mystical personality. Some experienced and keen adults by these distinguishing characteristics can pick them out even before introduction from afar.

 Despite their trade being deeply rooted in many cultural dos and don’ts, at the end of the day they are paid handsomely. It is assumed that any responsible parent with a boy child should have been making financial preparation for this well in advance. The fee is standard and hardly negotiable. More stories are said about their tools of trade everywhere they go during this season. This is a set of knives and other paraphernalia within a leather case that seems to have seen the better of days. Old and rugged and access only restricted to himself and his able assistant who will most likely be on training to be his successor. It is anathema for any other person to touch it leave alone taking a peek at what is inside. A lot of myths and other stories of misfortune that befell those who dared to breach this tenet abound. Some of the knives in the bag have been used in the trade for a long time since they have been passed from the forefathers of the trade. The candidate only gets to see the one that is used on them. A generally curved knife that is not purchased from the ordinary shop. It was made by the local blacksmiths who use the old technology of iron ore smelting or now lately by picking a piece of scrap metal and forging it into the desired shape and length. They are then sharpened and kept away next to be used for only one purpose - circumcision.