Until recently, the Bakweles have been using chimps for this ritual. They claim two chimps could be used for circumcision of as many as 36 people. They amputate the arms of the chimps. This part of the animal is eaten by elders of the village. Of late, however, due to the scarcity of chimps, Bakweles go for gorillas. Eight gorilla arms had lately been seized when a poacher fled from game rangers, leaving the meat behind in a bag. The arms were intended for an impending beka. “We cannot do without these animals,” the Bakwele chief complained, “if we must perform this important traditional
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