IVORY COAST: YOUTHS OF THE ADIUKRU TRIBE PROMOTED TO MANHOOD IN TRADITIONAL CEREMONY

Record ID: 638758

  • Title: IVORY COAST: YOUTHS OF THE ADIUKRU TRIBE PROMOTED TO MANHOOD IN TRADITIONAL CEREMONY
  • Date: 12th September 1969
  • Summary: WELCOME ARCH TO VILLAGE; YOUTH SMEARED WITH CHALK; ONLOOKERS; VILLAGE ELDERS WITH BAMBOO CANES; ELDERS BEAT ROOFS OF HOUSES AND MENACE YOUTHS WITH CANES; YOUTHS IN FRONT OF CAGES; YOUTH BRING PALM WINE TO ELDERS; YOUTH DRINKS; YOUTHS WITH COW BELLS AND GIRLS; YOUTHS AND GIRLS IN PROCESSION; INITIATED YOUTHS LEAVE CEREMONY GROUND; YOUTHS PROSTRATED. Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 27th September 1969 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: GRAND BOUBOURI, IVORY COAST
  • Country: Ivory Coast
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVA5SJ4EM7UEGZOKCFGWE0L0VABX
  • Story Text: GRAND BOUBOURI IS A SMALL VILLAGE NEAR ABIDJAN, CAPITAL OF THE IVORY COAST, INHABITED BY MEMBERS OF THE ADIUKRU TRIBE. THESE PROUD PEOPLE PRIDE THEMSELVES ON BEING WHOLLY IVORIEN AND HAVE RETAINED MANY OF THEIR ANCIENT TRADITIONS. ONE OF THESE IS THE "FETE DE GENERATION" -- HELD EVERY THREE YEARS -- IN WHICH A PRESELECTED GROUP OF BOYS AGED BETWEEN 16-18 ARE PROMOTED TO MANHOOD.
    UNTIL THE TIME OF THEIR INITIATION, THE YOUTHS ARE OBLIGED TO WEAR THEIR TOGAS IN FEMALE FASHION -- DRAPED OVER BOTH SHOULDERS -- ARE NOT PERMITTED TO ADDRESS ADULTS UNLESS SPOKEN TO FIRST AND ARE DIRECTLY UNDER THE MATRIARCHAL CONTROL OF THE WOMEN OF THE TRIBE.
    THOSE CONSIDERED READY FOR THE PROMOTION TO MANHOOD ARE INSTRUCTED BY THE VILLAGE ELDERS IN TRIBAL TRADITIONAL, HISTORY, JUNGLE LORE AND ARE TESTED FOR COURAGE AND SELF-CONTROL.
    DURING THE CEREMONY, THE YOUTHS WERE WHITE LOINCLOTHS AND ARE SMEARED WITH CHALK. THEY ARE PARADED ROUND THE VILLAGE AND ALL THE WHILE HEMMED IN BY ELDERS WHO MENACE THEM WITH BAMBOO CANES. AFTER DONNING ARM-LENGTH LEATHER GLOVES, THE YOUTHS ARE LINED UP IN FRONT OF CAGES, ORIGINALLY A PROTECTION FROM THE BLOWS OF THE ELDERS. NOWADAYS, HOWEVER, THE ACTUAL BEATING HAS BEEN DISPENSED WITH AND THE ELDERS CONTENT THEMSELVES WITH PURE MENACE. IT IS VITAL THAT THE YOUTHS SHOULD NOT FLINCH THIS SIMULATED ATTACK.
    AFTER OFFERING PALM WINE TO THEIR ELDERS, THE YOUTHS MOVE IN PROCESSION, EACH LEADING A FEMALE BEHIND HIM AND CARRYING A BELL IN ONE HAND A KNIFE IN THE OTHER. THE KNIFE DENOTES THE WARRIOR AND THE BELL THE RIGHT OF A MAN TO TALK OR MAKE NOISE. AS THEY PASS THROUGH A SMALL ARCHWAY -- SYMBOLISING THEIR ENTRANCE TO MANHOOD AND FREEDOM FROM FEMALE DOMINATION -- THEIR REED MUZZLES ARE REMOVED AND THEY RUN TO PROSTRATE THEMSELVES AT A SPOT NEAR THE FOREST WITH THEIR KNIVES AT THE READY. NOW THEY ARE MEN, WARRIORS AND DEFENDERS OF THE VILLAGE AND THE TRIBE.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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