Circumcisers who will be particiapting in this year's circumcision season in Western Province being registered and below the Western Province Director of Culture Ms. Gaudencia Otiba at the Kanduyi Stadium of Bungoma. [Photo | Timothy Makokha]

As the circumcision season in Western Kenya approaches, communities that perform the cultural practice to its males have been told to appreciate other people’s cultural value systems.

The Director of Culture Western Province Ms. Gaudencia Otiba urged the circumcisers who would be carrying out the activity to stop circumcising by force members from other tribes during a one day seminar held at the Kanduyi Stadium of Bungoma Town under the theme, “Accident free circumcision 2012.”

The seminar attracted circumcisers from the entire Western Province, Trans Nzoia and a few from the Bamasaaba community of Uganda.

Otiba urged members present to stop selling their culture, adding that they should not allow people to record video of their cultural activities without permission, but encouraged them to record documentaries and sell them out to generate income to members.

“Make documentaries and sell them to earn income rather than allowing foreigners to take the record of cultural activities for free for their own benefit as the owners of culture is not taken care of,” said Otiba.

She implored the men who have married wives from other tribes to ensure their wives learnt the Luhyia culture and nurture them to accept it to avoid marital conflicts during the circumcision season.

The Director of Culture for Bungoma County, Ms. Florence Nabwala Lukoosi advised circumcisers to select uniforms for identity wherever they are.

Other speakers at the meeting urged circumcisers to form associations that foster development in the region.  If this is effected would assist fight poverty in the Lukembe Balusanya Association.

Circumcisers were as well urged to register with the ministry of culture for recognition by the government.

Members present were also urged to make use of the sang’alo cultural center to promote domestic tourism in the country.

Mr. Dominic Wetangula who is the assistant minister for culture and heritage for Inzu Ya Masaaba urged members present to unite and uphold culture.

Mr. Wetangula advised circumcisers to be clean always. “You should be clean for you to serve effectively, by dressing clean clothes, bathing and shaving hair and beards”, said Mr. Wetangula.