Initiation Ceremony

Initiation of Boys is done in African communities to mark transition from childhood to menhood.
The process is done in a forest, away from the village and no girls/women are allowed to watch it. But the day following the initiation, the whole village would gather to celebrate. Here's what I saw:




A Job For Men
The men gathered early in the morning to butcher lambs. There must have been at least 3/4 whole lambs...





The women then marinate the lamb with spices and cook them over the fire for hours.





Meanwhile, the men gather round to drink. The liquid in the barrel and buckets in the foreground is African Beer, made out of maize fermented with yeast. There must have been at least 5 barrels of them.

The women were also drinking, but in a different corner. (It is interesting how the women has the privilege, like men to drink, but there is still a gender hierarchy).


The two boys who were initiated (in the blankets) then come to meet those who are celebrating for them. They first had to listen to the older men, who took turns, preaching (imparting words of wisdom) to them about menhood.



The boys then they list ned to another round of speeches that the women took turns. But this time, they also received gifts .


This is a photo of women waiting for their turns to speak to the boys.


Following that, they started eating the slow-cooked lamb.
The men were served first, followed by the older women, and then children. Young women ate last.


Men drinking african beer.

This photo is not part of initation ceremony.
In rural South Africa, the people brushed their teeth with coal.