The Mboum people have practiced male circumcision for decades. Until the middle of the last century, male circumcision was highly regarded as a period of initiation leading to a man's status. During the period of seclusion, teenagers from 14 to 16 years were selected, and certain cultural codes and knowledge of the community useful for their future life, were given to them. With the arrival of the modern school this mode of knowledge communication has phased out. Therefore, very often, there are conflicts between the older and younger generations especially those who were born and raised far from their community. By following a group of five children during their period of initiation, I show in this film how circumcision is practiced in this community. In spite of social changes and external pressures (urbanisation, modernity, HIV issues, etc), the effort and the will are there to make stable a social order resulting from this practice.

Director/filmmaker: Mohamadou Saliou
Producer/production company: VCS, University of Tromsø
Country of production: Norway
Country/location of film: Northern Cameroon
Year: 2010
Length: 52 minutes

NAFA 2010 - The 30th Nordic Anthropological Film Association International Film Festival | 28. August - 1. September 2010 | Moesgård Museum - Århus - Danmark
* screened Monday 30 August at 09.00