GUIDE OF SÉDHIOU - Cesie

simply superstition.
Another important tradition is the appearance of the
Kankuran, a spirit linked to the circumcision ceremony. When
the kids get their circumcision, the Kankuran is called out by
the wise old men of the village to chase the bad spirits away.
The Kankuran shows up in the night after the circumcision and
a strong wind accompanies his appearance. This rite has
ancient roots when the circumcision used to take place in the
forest. Circumcision represented
a real initiation rite into the
adult society: in the forest the
boys had to prove their virility.
As the forest is seen as a danger,
the Kankuran was expected to
protect the kids from any harm
when they were out there.
Nowadays the circumcision
doesn't take place in the forest
anymore, but the Kankuran is still highly respected by people.
Anytime a Kankuran is called out and enters the streets of
Sédhiou, you can hear girls screaming: when the Kankuran is
out, women are not supposed to stay outside. You better run,
when you see the man in the red or brown costum or people
around you start running. Otherwise you show him a lack of
respect and risk to get beaten up by him!
All in all Senegal is a country of tolerant, moderate Islam- very
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