Konkerons!! (written Oct 25)

I think I've mentioned konkerons before, but I'll give a brief explanation of this unique cultural practice again. Konkerons are people dressed up in big furry or leafy costumes that run around screeching and chasing people with machetes. They often use hallucinogens and are believed to have magic powers, such as flying and projecting their voices over long distances. Many people are afraid of them, especially children. This fear is not unfounded, as occasionally they hurt and even kill people. Konkeron are usually associated with circumcision ceremonies, but they crop up at other times as well. I've heard a variety of explanations for the reasons behind the practice, including instilling respect for elders and driving away bad spirits. We recently had a group circumcision ceremony in the compound next to us, so we've had a LOT of konkeron activity lately. I caught one on film the other evening (from the relative safety of our backyard)...see below: