Every year the island settlement held their cultural festival in a form of three months initiation rites, where over 100 kids (boys and girls) are circumcised and kept at a hideout for months. The first cultural festival I witnessed was in 1998 when I was barely 7yrs old, however it is important to note that the island’s cultural festival was first held in 1946, from then it is held every 5 years.

 

          As part of efforts meant for the promotion, development and preservation of this somewhat rich and cherished, but fading traditional cultural practice, during my visit to Janjanbureh in December 2013, I caught up with Honourable Foday Manka, National Assembly Member (NAM) for Janjanbureh.

          Honourable Manka is, by all measures, an encyclopedia for our traditional cultural norms and values. His book, exploring almost every aspect of traditional cultural norms and values, will soon hit the bookshelves. It covers an extensive and in-depth analysis of African life, mainly in The Gambia, dating back  hundreds of years ago.

         Honourable Manka spoke at length on circumcision from traditional cultural perspective, with special reference to the recently concluded one held in his Janjanbureh constituency, which, having been rated highly by many, was said to be a perfect exhibition of the African traditional cultural norms and values. The honourable National Assembly member observed that in traditional Gambian society, the community is given more prominence than the individual interest, and that it is obligatory for the individual to respect and participate in almost all activities of the community, failure of which is normally punishable with exclusion, which may have series of severe and untold consequences on the individual and his immediate associates in the community. Thus the individual is forced to conform to the norms and values of the community.

         Circumcision is seen as a must for everyone, irrespective of sex, before being qualified for entry into adulthood. The word "Solima" in traditional Mandinka cultural terms is applicable to someone who has not experienced the world of circumcision. Circumcision ceremonies in Janjanbureh was usually determined by good harvest and the number of people available to undergo the ritual initiation, followed by consensus and mutual agreement from community members to stage the event, Mr. Manka explained.

         He revealed that the 1946/47 traditional circumcision rite was the largest and most famous one ever held in Janjanbureh, which he said attracted more than 100 initiates, between the ages of 13 to 19, drawn from Janjanbureh and its Stateline villages. He delved on the circumstances that usually surrounded organization of the ritual circumcision, especially the night before the circumcision day, which is characterized by high profile parties, reassembling of the initiates in the home of their "Karambas" among other activities, throughout the period of the event.

         The Janjanbureh National Assembly Member (NAM) spoke at length on circumcision from traditional cultural perspective, touching on different traditional cultural words such as Jujuwo, Nyansinbondoo, Kintagolu, Kangurang, Tamba Dokoo, One significant and interesting feature in the entire period is the ‘’Kankurang” (masquerade)

         According to a definition given by Honorable Foday Manka, the national assembly member (NAM) for Janjanbureh, in his book on traditional cultural norms and values, the word Kankurang means a mask worn by individuals during ritual ceremonies. This mask is said to conceal the wearer's identity, and that the hidden identity establishes that no ordinary man has the right to judge others. Therefore, the mask disguising the human form is believed to have the authority to act in the name and place of spirits. The non-human form of the masquerade has become the most important traditional cultural practice retained by the community.

         During the festive period initiates are taking out every day for schooling were elders taught them the norms, values, and beliefs in society to a sacred place called ‘’Tinyansita’’.  This is a place at the eastern side of the town, “ Tinyan means Rest, Sita means a Baobab Tree’’.

         The Kankurang is the main character throughout the entire period, it will usually come out at nights, rarely at day time but when the initiates began complaining about supernatural powers (witches and wizards) attacking them because it is believed that the initiates are normally attacked by the peoples, so the Kankurang will be the protector . Throughout the period the initiates would not take bath, neither would they see their mom’s because women are forbidden to set eye on male initiates. It is an intense period through adulthood for them. During the time, traditional songs would be learned and values would be taught.

         After months in the hideout, the big day is set for the grand party, but before that the initiates would be first taking to a place called ‘’Birikiba’’ meaning a Big bricks, where they will be giving a bath, their clothes been washed and rest for a while before being escorted to the hideout. On this day celebrants from all walks of life will gather for and usher the brave boys and girls from Birikiba to the hideout, drums and Kankurangs made this day special. The initiates are first taking to the chief's residence for his blessing, this is done with less than two weeks before the big ceremony. On the last day of the three months in hideout, the initiates would be taken to Birikiba for the final washing, at Birikima, traditional songs would be sung andgoodbyee songs would be heard from them.

         After they  are cleaned, a message would be sent to the elders to lead the women. Drums and Kankurangs to go welcome the newly ordained adults to the society After the welcoming gestures, the initiates would be taken to Tinyansita for the final rites and whilst the rituals are on, women would all converge at one spot commonly the eldest woman home for cooking and other things, whilst men would be busy decorating the ground for the evening’s show. Middle men in their part would all be busy masking their various Kankurangs.

         At around 2 pm after lunches are taken, the ground is set for the big day, onlookers, natives and guests would all make their way to Tinyansita for the cultural festival to see their sons and daughters for the first time after three months been conferred by the elders of Janjanbureh the mantle of future leaderships and welcome them into adulthood.

         From there the entire night is celebration and narrating their experience at the hideout. The unfortunate part of it was that I was never part of the Janjanbureh initiations rites, I was circumcised in 1998, and my dad wanted to take me to the hideout but my mom said a Big No and I ended up at home alone, boring and sad, but within two weeks I was healed and I continued the celebration with the rest. Lol!