Rites of passage

August is a time of transition for boys about 10-12 years old. Apparently every two years, boys in this age group engage very publicly in something we would hold private. As we've driven this month, we've seen parades along the side of the road. The young men are painted white. Actually they are covered in a white clay that is supposed to be antibiotic and deaden pain as the surgery is performed without anesthetic. Family and friends are with them holding branches or fronds of some kind. In some situations, only the men are with the boys and the women and children follow behind.

This is a time for them to separate themselves from childish things, move away from mother, and move toward adulthood. As they heal, they wear skirts for comfort, but are taught about manly things.

Going to Sabatia, we passed this group of parading young men-- garbed in woven masks and clothes. There must have been 50 of them. Then, as we came back from Erica's we passed the same group, now out of costume and in regular clothes. I use the word "passed" loosely. They covered the road. We simply stopped and waited for them to flow around us. When they had passed, we could move forward.