The Dark Child-Camara Laye

Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin, also known as the prepuce either in
part or in whole (Abdulwahab-Ahmed and Ismaila 1). It is done for cultural and religious
purposes. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) supports the practice for medical reasons
as it has some health benefits. AAP holds that male circumcision among newborn children has
public and preventive health benefits that outweigh the risk of conducting the procedure on male
newborn children. Further, Australian aborigines, Muslims, and Black Africans conduct
circumcision for religious purposes. In Western societies, however, circumcision is mostly
practiced for medical reasons. It is advised that the procedure be performed during a child’s
neonatal stages as a way of minimizing the risks associated with it. About 33% of the world’s
male population is circumcised, either for medical or cultural reasons (Abdulwahab-Ahmed and
Ismaila 3). This paper explores circumcision as a rite of passage in the novel, The Dark Child
and its significance in society.
Childhood
The Dark Child is a fairy short autobiographical account of a young boy’s life and
experiences in Guinea in the 1930s and 1940s. Even in parts where the boy has outgrown his
childhood, he still recounts with nostalgia how he spent his early years with his parents. As the

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title of the book suggests, the theme of childhood has been explored specifically within the first
chapters of the book. Laye sets the structure of the story, which is narrated chronologically. The
first chapters focus on experiences in his childhood; as the chapters progress, it narrator gives an
account of his experiences later in life.
Laye remembers spending a lot of time in the verandah of a private hut belonging to his
father. He describes the hut with pride; he says, “it was his private hut, and like all our huts built
of mud bricks that had been pounded and molded with water, it was round and proudly helmeted
with thatch” (Laye 18). Laye remembers seeing a snake and how fascinated he was that it had
glittering eyes, oblivious of the danger that the animal posed to him. Laye’s childhood was not
without struggles. He explains how he had to exercise caution while playing in school so as not
to soil or ruin his school uniform. He was in a structured school and had to wear the uniform.
From his narration, it is evident that he came from a poor background because he had only one
set of uniform.
Laye was an intelligent child. When he travels to the city, he compares city life and life in
the countryside. He notes that although people in the countryside are often considered slow and
uncivilized, they were actually more considerate and dignified than people in the city. While
their simplified speech is compared to low levels of intelligence, Laye thinks the opposite. He
critically analyzes life in the city and in the village and prefers life back in the countryside. Laye
admires the hard work and resilience of the reapers in the farms. There also seems to be a
harmonious co-existence between people and nature. Laye’s comparison shows a wonderful
transition from city life to his grandmother’s country home.
Transition

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Apart from the transition from the city to the village, Laye also transitions from
childhood to adulthood. He undergoes circumcision, a cultural rite of passage that marks one
transition into adulthood. He remarks, “I was growing old” (Laye 93). He begins the ritual one
evening by attending the ceremony of the lions. He is afraid of Konden Diara, but his father asks
him to control his fear because he, too, went through the ceremony. The lion will just roar at him.
He is afraid that he has lost his innocence and might never regain it. The boys go through
circumcision as a mark of the transition from childhood to manhood. At Kouroussa, which is the
main square, many activities take place. There is a lot of dancing as people listen and enjoy
music. There is a joyful mood. However, this contrasts with the general feeling of the boys being
circumcised. They are scared and afraid of the transition.
Another significant thing that Laye notes is the special clothing worn by the boys to be
circumcised. It is called a boubou, which is split to the sides and long such that it touches the
heels. They also have colorful and bright silk handkerchief that is tied to each of the boys’ loins.
The aim is that as they dance, the boubou is blown by the wind, and everyone can see the
beautiful handkerchiefs. The dancing extends for a week. The boys are then taken to a special hut
where they stay for a month, awaiting to recover after undergoing circumcision. During
circumcision, the boys are not supposed to show their fear. The event is marked by the spilling of
blood, and a messenger is sent to the boy’s family to inform them that all went well.
The final phase of transition is marked by Check’s death. Laye, Check, and Kouyate were
all friends. Laye remembers how Check fell ill, his health deteriorated, and then died. The death
of his close friend marks his final transition. He has lost all his innocence, and all he has to do is
grow. Check dies at a time when the young men were finally enjoying their freedom. They
would show up for meals whenever they wanted because no one would question their actions.

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Death occurs at the pinnacle of the young men’s youth, and this leads to the loss of their
optimism. All that is left now is for Laye to grow; this time around, growth is not marked by
ceremony and ritual only. He grows in attitude and demeanor as well.
Finality
The ceremony during which Laye is circumcised marks his transition from childhood to
finality. When his friend dies, there is a finality to youth optimism and a beginning of a new
phase in Laye’s life. After saying goodbye to Check, he feels mature enough for new beginnings.
He considers an opportunity to study in France, many miles away from home. Saying goodbye to
his mother and to Maria were experiences he had not envisioned. During the final goodbye,
Laye’s mother breaks down. She breaks down, but Laye is strong. He, however, breaks down
when saying goodbye to Maria. He has displaced his affection from his mother to Maria, his
lover. Overall, each transition is done with fear, anxiety but with a sense of finality. Laye wants
to better his life by pursuing an education in Paris. He, however, feels sad that he is leaving his
family, friends, and a society that has witnessed his growth. Laye transitions through different
stages in life with a sense of finality and a zeal to want more in life. The Dark Child is a timeless
and emotive story.

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Works Cited

Abdulwahab-Ahmed, Abdullahi, and Ismaila A. Mungadi. “Techniques of male
circumcision.” Journal of surgical technique and case report 5.1 (2013): 1-7.
Laye, Camara, and Laye Camara. The dark child. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1954.