A widespread cultural practice throughout the world, circumcision marks an important rite of passage physically inscribed on the body, marking a transition from childhood to adulthood, and sexuality. Circumcision also emodies culturally constructed notions of the need to remove an "undesirable" part of one's body in order to be a whole and fully formed adult. Thus removal of the foreskin of the penis may remove the "feminine" portion from the male and removal of the phallic clitoris removes a visibly "male" part of the woman. Widely misunderstood and demonized, particularly in the case of female circumcision, the Samburu do not practice the most extreme form of female circumcision, infibulation or pharaonic circumcision. This involves complete excision of the clitoris, labia majora and labia minora and involves almost completely sewing up of the vaginal opening. Rather, the Samburu practice cliterodectomy, a partial removal of the clitoris. Cliterodectomy and more extreme forms of female circumcision practiced elsewhere, besides being rites of passage, may be conceptualized as cultural controls on women's sexuality, which is often considered to be dangerous and destabilizing.

Circumcision for men, on the other hand, is most visibly a physical initiation into manhood. Young men are circumcised along with those of their age-sets in roughly thirteen year intervals, and these young men move through life with those of their age-set cohort. The proper comportment and behavior is essential before, during and after this important event in a man's life. Failure to show proper respect to lmurran warriors and elders as young men, failure to control oneself or crying out while being cut can all bring a lifetime of shame and ostracism. Showing a brave face during this painful event shows everyone this young man has what it takes to become a brave, strong and determined lmurran (warrior).

Two young sisters who have recently been circumcised and had their heads shaved as part of wedding prepartations for the bride (left).

A young man prepares to cook meat. His black clothing signifies he has yet to be circumcised and the bird feathers he wears tied to his head mark him as the liminal age at which young men "throw birds". Using blunt arrows, young men hunt and kill as many birds as they can and fashion their feathers into a decoration to be worn around the head.

Smeared with ochre (a mix of fat and dirt) and adorned with beads and necklaces, the same young man above (yet to be circumcised), poses before a night of singing and dancing as preparation for the upcoming circumcision of his age-set.