Our guide left us as we crossed Kotu Stream and we were approached by a couple of other guys trying to sell us juice. Suddenly we noticed three Kankurang Dancers and a group of young boys all with their heads covered. The juice sellers told us they had been circumcised and were celebrating their return after three months away from home. However now a days in the Kombo area they usually are kept in their own compound and are frequently visited upon by their parents, they said circumcision is carried out in hospital between the ages of five and twelve years old. As we stood watching I tried to get a photo but thought they might be offended, then one of the dancers started coming towards us banging two machete knife blades together which is to ward off evil Abi and Bradley were a bit scarred so one of the juice sellers shouted to him and he backed off. The Kankurang Dancers have a crucial role in traditional rites and also entertain at major festivals; I can only describe their costumes as a cloth haystack with a mask to cover the face, not someone you would want to meet on a dark night.
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