Boot Camp - Gũthiĩ Mũtitũ
Going to the forest: preparing the boys to face the knife
Before boys are circumcised, they go for a retreat (boot camp) in the forest. Circumcision was traditionally done in the forest (mũtitũ).
The purpose of this forest seclusion retreat is to "fatten", bond and to physically and psychologically prepare the boys "to face the knife"; the physical circumcision.
At the Riika Program, the forest boot camp is held at the Paradise Lost grounds, where the candidates take part in outdoor training, team challenges and bonding activities with their riika (age-group).
Focus
Bonding, physical and psychological preparation
Setting
Paradise Lost grounds
Gũthiĩ Mũtitũ
Forest boot camp at Paradise Lost
