The Kipsigi's (a tribe of people living in Kenya, east of Lake Victoria) practice what may appear on the outside to be strange, but in many ways is a very straightforward rite of passage. It has 4 basic elements- circumcision, initiation into the secret rituals of the tribe, physical hardening, and the rite itself.

The practice may occur at any time, except during the rainy season, and can happen at any age between fourteen and eighteen. The number of boys who can take part in one ceremony varies between five and ten. An old man takes the boys into his hut, and cares for them as his sons (in fact, he is even called pamango, which translates to father). One month before the first part, the boys must build a hut near the pamangos' house (this is most likely to teach the boy's how to create shelter). After this...