Circumcision in Africa
Circumcision in Africa, and the rites of initiation in Africa, as well as "the frequent resemblance between details of ceremonial procedure in areas thousands of kilometres apart, indicate that the circumcision ritual has an old tradition behind it and in its present form is the result of a long process of development."
Cultural background
Certain African cultural groups, such as the Yoruba and the Igbo of Nigeria, customarily circumcise their infant sons. Amongst the Serer ethnoreligious group of the Senegambia region, the Ndut initiation rite holds Serer religious, cultural, and educational significance. The procedure is also practiced by some cultural groups or individual family lines in Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and in southern Africa. For some of these groups, circumcision appears to be purely cultural, done with no particular religious significance or intention to distinguish members of a group. For others, circumcision might be done for purification, or it may be interpreted as a mark of subjugation. Among these groups, even when circumcision is done for reasons of tradition, it is often done in hospitals.The Xhosa community practice circumcision as a sacrifice. In doing so, young boys will announce to their family members when they are ready for circumcision by singing. The sacrifice is the blood spilt during the initiation procedure. Young boys will be considered an "outsiders" unless they undergo circumcision. It is not clear how many deaths and injuries result from non-clinical circumcisions.
History
North Africa
Algeria
At Oued Djerat, in Algeria, engraved rock art with masked bowmen, which feature male circumcision and may be a scene involving ritual, have been dated to earlier than 6000 BP amid the Bubaline Period; more specifically, while possibly dating much earlier than 10,000 BP, rock art walls from the Bubaline Period have been dated between 9200 BP and 5500 BP. The cultural practice of circumcision may have spread from the Central Sahara, toward the south in Sub-Saharan Africa and toward the east in the region of the Nile.Egypt
Based on engraved evidence found on walls and evidence from mummies, circumcision has been dated to at least as early as 6000 BCE in ancient Egypt.Ancient Egyptian mummies, which have been dated as early as 4000 BCE, show evidence of having undergone circumcision.
At the mastaba of Ankhmahor in Saqqara, an engraved wall provides an account of Uha, dated to the 23rd century BCE, which indicates that he and others underwent male circumcision.
Herodotus indicated that the ancient Egyptians, at-large, practiced circumcision; he also indicated that ancient Ethiopians practiced circumcision.
Xanthus of Lydia indicated that female circumcision was practiced among the ancient Egyptians.
Agatharchides of Cnidus indicated that "troglodyte" ethnic groups practiced circumcision; these groups may have resided along the African coast of the Red Sea in southern Egypt or near the Gulf of Zula in present-day Eritrea; while most of these groups practiced a form of circumcision that involved partial excision, the ethnic group, identified by Agatharchides as the "Colobi", were indicated to have practiced a form of circumcision that involved total excision.
A papyrus, which was part of the Serapeum's Ptolemaios archive at Memphis and has been dated to 163 BCE, indicated that an ancient Egyptian girl, Tathemis, was scheduled to undergo female circumcision.
Philo of Alexandria indicated that the ancient Egyptians practiced circumcision.
Between 60 BCE and 56 BCE, Diodorus Siculus indicated that female circumcision was a common custom in ancient Egypt.
Between 29 BCE and 26 BCE, Strabo indicated that the ancient Egyptians practiced circumcision.
Galen of Pergamum indicated that female circumcision was practiced among the ancient Egyptians.
Soranus of Ephesus indicated that female circumcision was practiced among the ancient Egyptians.
Aëtius of Amida indicated that female circumcision was practiced among the ancient Egyptians.
Leo Africanus indicated female circumcision was practiced among Egyptians.
West Africa
Senegambia region
Amongst the Serer ethnoreligious group of Senegal, Gambia, Mauritania, and Guinea-Bissau, the Ndut holds Serer religious, cultural, and educational significance. It is in classical Ndut teachings that many aspects of Serer ancient history, Serer cosmogony - including the history and mysteries of the universe are taught.Sierra Leone
The Nomoli figurines, which were created by the Mende people in Sierra Leone and depict male circumcised genitalia, have been dated between the 7th century CE and the 8th century CE.Central Africa
Prior to 300 CE, male circumcision, which is a cultural practice that is part of male initiations, is estimated to have existed in Africa for more than 9000 years. By 300 CE, male initiation and male circumcision had ceased among some matrilineal Bantu-speaking peoples in East Africa and Central Africa.East Africa
Prior to 300 CE, male circumcision, which is a cultural practice that is part of male initiations, is estimated to have existed in Africa for more than 9000 years. By 300 CE, male initiation and male circumcision had ceased among some matrilineal Bantu-speaking peoples in East Africa and Central Africa.Eritrea
of Cnidus indicated that "troglodyte" ethnic groups practiced circumcision; these groups may have resided along the African coast of the Red Sea in southern Egypt or near the Gulf of Zula in present-day Eritrea; while most of these groups practiced a form of circumcision that involved partial excision, the ethnic group, identified by Agatharchides as the "Colobi", were indicated to have practiced a form of circumcision that involved total excision.Southern Africa
South Africa
In the 19th century CE, Shaka, a Zulu king, prohibited male circumcision due to concerns that young circumcised men might be less interested in joining as warriors in the military force he was amassing and uniting in the region of southern Africa and might be more interested in seeking opportunities for having sex.Percentage of circumcision per country
Circumcision is prevalent among 92% of men in North Africa and around 62% in Sub-Saharan Africa. In western and northern parts of Africa it is mainly performed for religious reasons, whereas in southern parts of Africa it rarely performed in neonates, instead being a rite of passage into manhood.Studies evaluating the complications due to traditional male circumcision have found rates varying from 35% to 48%. Infection, delayed wound healing, glans amputation and injury, bleeding, loss of penile sensitivity, excessive removal of foreskin, and death are the major complications reported.
In some African and Eastern Christian denominations male circumcision is an integral or established practice, and require that their male members undergo circumcision. Circumcision is near-universal among Coptic Christians, Ethiopian Orthodox and Eritrean Orthodox, and they practice circumcision as a rite of passage.
North Africa
Algeria
The male child circumcision rate in Algeria is around 97.9%.Egypt
The male child circumcision rate in Egypt is around 94%.Circumcision is near-universal among Coptic Christians, and they practice circumcision as a rite of passage.
Libya
The male circumcision rate in Libya is estimated to be 96.6%.Morocco
The male circumcision rate in Morocco is estimated to be 99.9%.Historically, circumcision in Morocco was performed by barbers, but is now done by medical surgeons. The circumcision of Prince Moulay Hassan, almost two years old at the time, prompted thousands of other young boys to be circumcised. The procedure is considered "purification" by Muslims.
Tunisia
The male child circumcision rate in Tunisia is around 99.8%.Western Sahara
The male circumcision rate in Western Sahara is estimated to be 99.6%.West Africa
Benin
The male circumcision rate in Benin is estimated to be 92.9%.Burkina Faso
The male circumcision rate in Burkina Faso is estimated to be 88.3%.Gambia
The male circumcision rate in The Gambia is estimated to be 94.5%.Ghana
The male child circumcision rate in Ghana is around 95%, with operations performed in hospitals and clinics. However, there are some variations in the country. For example, circumcision is less common in Ghana's Upper West Region, at 68%.Guinea
The male circumcision rate in Guinea is estimated to be 84.2%.Guinea-Bissau
The male circumcision rate in Guinea-Bissau is estimated to be 93.3%.Ivory Coast
The male circumcision rate in Ivory Coast is around 95%, with operations conducted in hospitals and health clinics.Liberia
Almost all men in Liberia are circumcised, with operations carried out in hospitals and health clinics.Mali
The male circumcision rate in Mali is estimated to be 86%.Mauritania
The male circumcision rate in Mauritania is estimated to be 99.2%.Niger
The male circumcision rate in Niger is estimated to be 95.5%.Nigeria
The male circumcision rate in Nigeria is estimated to be 98.9%.Nigerian culture favours circumcising baby boys when they are aged between eight and forty days. Neonatal circumcision is performed on more than 85% of boys in Nigeria, Western Africa, and the majority of procedures are done by nurses and doctors, with a small proportion performed by traditional practitioners. The reasons are cultural and religious.