Women's initiation rites in Africa

African female initiation ceremonies are rites of passage for girls entering womanhood, and are usually a public annoucement of the girl's eligibility for marriage.

Nearly every culture in the world ritualizes the important milestones throughout life. Birth, marriage and death are typically marked by special ceremonies. The final passage from childhood to adulthood also figures prominently among various ethnic groups worldwide. Hispanic cultures have quincineras for their daughters. Jews hold Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvahs for their children. And in America we celebrate with Sweet Sixteen parties.

In Africa, initiation ceremonies are rooted in deep, conservative traditions. For African females, ceremonies marking their entry into the realm of adults are also a public announcement to the community that she is ready to be married. African life revolves around the family and therefore female African initiation ceremonies tend to focus heavily on the preparation of young girls to be good wives and excellent mothers.

Young girls from the Krobo ethnic group, which is dispersed across Ghana, perform the Dipo ceremony. The official ceremony lasts about five days, but pre-ritual preparation requires three weeks. The mother of a young girl selects a ‘ritual mother’ for her daughter. Like a favored aunt, the ritual mother prepares the young girl for her future role as a wife and mother. The young girl learns the art of cooking and household management (a skill she’s been performing beside her own mother since she could walk), music, dance and beautification. The girl is encouraged to leave behind her jaunty, carefree childhood ways and adopt the stature of a woman full of dignity and grace.

The ritual mother will also school the young girl in the art of seduction. The ability to please a man in every way is an art taken seriously by Krobo women. A special string of beads may be worn loosely about her hips as a visual gift to her husband. This focus of seduction, however, does not necessarily lead to a high-rate of promiscuity. Any woman who lets a man other than her husband view her hip beads could be considered unfaithful.

Once the young girl has completed her three-week ‘finishing school’, she is ready for the Dipo ceremony. Although the goal of the ceremony is to celebrate a young girl’s new maturity, it is also a forum for attracting a husband. To afford the best possible selection, the girl will travel with her female mentor to nearby villages to perform the ceremony. She takes with her all the glass beads owned by her family. Glass beads represent wealth among the Krobo and the more beaded necklaces, bracelets and other adornments she wears, the more attractive she will be. Traditionally the girls would perform the ceremony wearing nothing but their glass beads, but today all girls wear a loincloth. The five-day ceremony consists of dancing, eating and merriment. Serious negotiations also take place as local boys and men begin to inquire after a girl’s family. As Carol Beckwith stated in her book titled African Ceremonies, Krobo women are regarded throughout the continent as making the most suitable wives.

A similar dance takes place further south in Swaziland. Every year during the months of August and September, every eligible maiden from the Kingdom of Swaziland attends the Reed Dance, locally known as the Umhlanga. This eight-day ceremony marks the beginning of adulthood for Swazi girls, and also announces to Kingdom that they are ready for marriage. The ceremony, which is restricted to unmarried and childless girls, starts when the girls arrive at the royal home of the mother of the King of Swaziland. To protect the girls on their journey, reputable men from their home villages accompany them to the dance. Once they arrived at the royal compound, the girls are separated into younger and older age groups.

Within their groups they march to the nearby reed beds with long knives, cutting ten to twenty reeds a piece. Using plaited wild grass, they tie up the bundle of reeds and head back to the royal village by nightfall. The next day the reeds are presented to the King’s mother as a sign of respect. For the next several days, the girls perform a series of songs and dances, in hopes of attracting the eye of a suitor. On the seventh day of the ceremony the King arrives to watch the girls dance. If he so desires, he will choose one girl from the crowd to be his wife. The King orders several cattle to be slaughtered from which everyone shares in the feast. On the eight day, the ceremony is complete and the girls return to their villages ready for marriage.

Some women initiation ceremonies are slowly disappearing. In Nigeria, young girls would be cloistered for weeks in an effort to learn the nuances of being a good wife. During this time, the girl would be fattened so as to add several dimensions to her frame. Many ethnic groups in Africa find heavy women attractive. Their corpulence provides a public statement of a man’s wealth in that his wife has plenty of food and servants to do her bidding. Although a heavy frame is still admired among the Nigerian, and several girls will take great pains to increase their weight, the ritual fattening ceremony rarely takes place.

Another ritual that is fading, to the approval of many women’s rights groups, is that of female circumcision. This practice is still quite common among the Masaai and Himba people of southern Africa. As in most African societies, a young girl is considered an adult once she is eligible to marry. For the Masaai and Himba, a young girl will not be suitable for marriage unless she undergoes the circumcision ceremony. Usually the ceremony is attended by the females of the girl’s family. In a private room in their home or out in the countryside, an elderly matron cuts out the girl’s clitoris with a razor blade. The procedure is also called female genital mutilation and has been condemned worldwide for its potential danger to young girls. African tribes still practicing female circumcision insist that the ceremony enforces chastity among females and is central to the initiation rights of girls entering adulthood. Supporters also cite that circumcision ceremonies continue to exist among males with little condemnation from human rights organizations. Himba males, for example, are forced to undergo a painful circumcision. They are absolutely forbidden to cry out in pain for fear of shaming their family, whereas females are encouraged to release their pain vocally.

Female African initiation ceremonies, much like their male counterparts, provide instructions to females on what society will expect of them as adults. Having imitated their mothers from birth, most girls are already fully aware of what will be expected of them as women. The ceremony, however, is the public expression of this expectation by the society – a positive form of peer pressure. In most cultures, the initiation ceremony is something a young girl eagerly looks forward to, prepares for, and honorably takes part in. In essence, the ceremony is the ultimate expression of her flowering womanhood.

Sources: www.thebeadsite.com, Swaziland National Trust Commission at www.sntc.org.sc/cultural

Read more »

The Japanese tea ceremony ritual

Rooted in the Zen principles of harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility, the ritual Japanese tea ceremony provides participants a respite from their daily routines.

The Japanese tea ceremony is not a ceremony at all, if that word is taken to mean an unchanging program of actions and rituals. Rather, it is a subtly variable way to commune with nature and with friends. Deeply rooted in Chinese Zen philosophy, it is a way to remove oneself from the mundane affairs of day-to-day living and to achieve, if only for a time, serenity and inner peace.

On the surface, chanoyu – the Japanese term for what is known in the West as the tea ceremony – is a gathering of friends for a simple meal. Every element of chanoyu, no matter how tiny, is chosen to build on and reflect the principles of harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility.

Chanoyu takes place in a small hut apart from the main house. Guests gather in a porch called the machiai and wait until they are summoned. To reach the teahouse, guests walk from the machiai along the roji, or garden path. This path represents a transition, a break from the outside world. The walkway is sprinkled with water as an act of purification before the guests arrive. The teahouse is quite small – about ten feet square – and made of unassuming materials. Although guests enter the house in a predetermined order according to rank, the entryway is small and low – about three feet high. This serves to bring each guest to the same level, a reminder that we are humble beings in a vast universe. The windows of the hut are papered, the floors are covered with tatami mats, and the lighting is dim. Flowers adorn an alcove in which is hung a scroll with words of Zen philosophy. The host does not enter the room until all the guests are seated.

The teahouse changes with the seasons. In warm weather, guests arrive before the heat of the day. Water for tea is prepared on a brazier. Guests arrive in the evening when the weather is colder, and water is heated on a sunken hearth. All the utensils and accessories are chosen with the four Zen principles in mind. Lacquer, bamboo, and ceramics are used together to achieve harmony through contrast. As Kakuzo Okakura wrote in the 1906 classic, The Book of Tea, "Not a color to disturb the tone of the room, not a sound to mar the rhythm of things, not a gesture to obtrude on the harmony, not a word to break the unity of the surroundings, all movements to be performed simply and naturally – such were the aims of the tea ceremony."

The host serves kaiseki, a meal composed of seven light courses. Typically, the serving dishes are ceramic and are presented on black lacquer trays. For an intentional contrast, the fifth course, or Hassun, may be served on a tray made of cedar. Soup, rice, fish, and pickles comprise the usual menu, served with small portions of sake, or rice wine. The final course is a sweet, often made with a bean paste.

After kaiseki is completed, the host prepares the tea. The Matcha, or finely powdered green tea, is kept in a ceramic container in a silk bag. The host scoops a portion of the tea into a ceramic tea bowl and carefully adds simmering water. With a small bamboo whisk the host mixes the tea and the water until the drink is frothy and green. And finally, the tea is served.

Read more »

What is Feng Shui?

Feng Shui is the practice of balancing life's energy. Find out more about it!

The practice of Feng Shui has been used by the Chinese for centuries. Translated, the name "Feng Shui" means the wind and the water. These are considered to be two of the most important forms of energy. The basic idea of this age-old practice is to make our environments as beneficial as possible to our health and well being. That is, if our life energy is balanced, then good things and happiness will surely come to us. This is achieved by making the natural energy in a room or an entire building flow naturally and positively. The Chinese believe that this is achieved by the proper placement as well as the designs of rooms and buildings.

You can apply Feng Shui to your home or work space by first considering the current layout of each room. Your bedroom, for example, should be a place of perfect rest and relaxation. The color scheme of the room should be calm, peaceful, and inducive to sleep. The furniture should only reflect the sole purpose of the room. A desk, for example, would be out of place in a bedroom. The ideal place for a desk would be in a den or office. In using Feng Shui, it is believed that when you are in bed, your feet should not point straight out of a door. Also, your back should not face the doorway either. Your bed should be located as far away from the door as possible.

Another important room on your house is your living room. It should be lighted and decorated in a pleasing manner. The furniture should be comfortable and inviting and positioned so that people can sit and talk to each other easily. Again, your living room should be used or designed for one use only. Exercise equipment or office furniture should not occupy this room.

You can walk through and check every room of your house and see if you need to make any changes in the decorations or furniture placement.

Another important aspect to consider in the practice of Feng Shui, is the smell of your home or office. Take a deep breath and let your nose find out. Does the air smell fresh? You may choose to light a scented candle or use another form of an air freshener in order to make the room smell better.

What about the sounds in each room? Walk through and listen carefully. Is there a television set or a radio blaring loudly? Loud noises do not contribute to the harmonic flow that you are trying to create.

There are some other principles of Feng Shui which apply to your life in general. One principle is, that is something becomes broken, you should fix it. Items that are left broken and unfixed may be symbolic of "broken" things or unsolved problems in your life. A second principle is clutter and hoarding unneeded items. This may be a sign that you wish to hold onto old habits, whether they are good or not. Discard unused items that have not been used in a year or so.

Read more »

Kendo: techniques of Japanese sword fighting

What is the kendo technique of Japanese sword fighting? Fully armoured knights attack in a flurry, bamboo swords cracking on polished leather. Learn more about this popular sport.

From a nearby gymnasium comes the sound of a loud cry and the crack of bamboo hitting leather. A stranger peeking into the room could be forgiven for thinking they had entered some science fiction movie set with a race of masked and armoured aliens. In fact, what they see is the traditional, protective clothing of kendo.

What is kendo?

Kendo is based on traditional Japanese fighting forms called bujutsu which were designed to practice the most efficient ways of attack and counter attack in sword fighting. While these forms are no longer appropriate as fighting with swords is no longer the standard, kendo has adapted them into a sport similar to fencing where points are given according to where on the body you hit someone with a bamboo stick.

The history of kendo

The 12th to 14th centuries saw sword fighting come to the fore with skills being gradually honed and talented individuals being seen as teachers. Until the beginning of the 15th century, many teaching schools were formed and fatal fights were common between students who were convinced their own teacher’s way of doing things was the best.

At last, teachers began to notice that the most successful sword fighters (ie. those that lived) had something in addition to skill, the ability to remain calm under pressure. It was then that Zen became an integral part of the training through ritual and philosophic thought like it has in many other martial arts.

The look and feel of modern kendo was developed during the seventeenth century where the shinai (bamboo stick) and armour were introduced and this was perfected in the late eighteenth century. The same items continue to be used today.

In 1868, for nearly 30 years, a government ban on swords was in place meaning that kendo fell by the wayside but the end of the ban sparked a renewed interest in the sport. This continued until post-war Japan when another ban was imposed and kendo was not reintroduced until 1957.

Kendo has been undergoing a revival in recent years. While it originated as a form of sword fighting self-defence, it is now taught in both junior and senior high schools to develop self-discipline and also included as part of the police-training program.

The clothing

Kendo armour is deep blue in colour and made from hard leather and bamboo. It includes a shirt, skirt, waist protector, chest protector, headscarf, head/ shoulders/ chest protector and padded gloves as well as the bamboo shinai or stick. In many ways the costume resembles ancient Japanese armour which you can see on dolls and in museums.

The sport of kendo

In kendo, points are allocated for hits with the shinai on certain target areas of the head and body, the Japanese name for which must be called out as you aim for it. There are five areas:

-dead center on top of the head protector

-slightly left or right on top of the head protector

-throat thrust

-the right wrist

-the chest protector, just under the right arm

The fight lasts for a specified period and is won either when someone reaches two points from hits to the appropriate areas or when the time ends and someone is leading 1-0. The match is declared a draw if the time ends with both players on the same score or the match can be continued until one player scores.

Despite the formality of the bouts, kendo is more than just a sport. It sustains traditions and encourages mental as well as physical strength and dexterity. Clubs are springing up around the world, fascinated with the skill and glamour of this ancient art.

Read more »

Understanding cultural references in japanese anime and manga

Ever wondered why anime characters have big eyes or wear beads? This article gives you an insight into Japanese culture, as seen in anime and manga!

Most Japanese anime is, obviously, made for a Japanese market, meaning American viewers will be unfamiliar with much of what they see. While some of this unfamiliarity adds to the pleasure of watching, some facets of Japanese culture could stand to be explained.

The Eyes: The large, shiny eyes that have become a staple of anime style are actually more a product of history than of culture. In the past, characters in American and European cartoons, such as Betty Boop and Felix the Cat, had disproportionately large eyes. This style was emulated by Tezuka Osamu, one of the most influential founding fathers of anime. Today, this distinctive eye style has become a matter of the animators' preference. Large eyes often appear on women and young children to make them appear more innocent. Although most American viewers are familiar only with this particular eye style, many of the characters in cartoons shown in Japan possess much more normal eyes.


Various Prefixes and Suffixes: Although an anime may be dubbed in English, many Japanese "add-ons" are left attached to characters' names. These prefixes and suffixes do not have direct English translations, but their meaning is easily understood.

The suffix -sama is a term of the utmost respect, such as one would use when talking about the Emperor or God.

The suffix -san is used for general politeness.

The suffix -chan is a term of endearment, used only between family members, close friends, or romantically involved couples. The suffix -kun is often added to the end of a young man's name. The honorific o- added at the beginning of names and some common nouns has a duel purpose. It is used as both a term of respect and as a means to "soften" statements and requests that would otherwise sound too sharp.


Strange Hair Colors: Outrageous hair colors are common in anime, despite the fact that no culture, anywhere, considers them the norm. The reason for this is surprisingly simple. When a manga series (Japanese comic book) or anime has been selected for U.S. release, the characters' hair color is often changed so that viewers will be able to tell the difference between very similar-looking characters.

Cherry Blossoms: Cherry Blossoms ("sakura" in Japanese) are evident in many anime, including Peacock King and X 1999. In Japan, blossom-viewing parties and picnics are standard fare during the springtime, when the flowers fall as thick as snow. Cherry blossoms are also considered to be a symbol of a life cut tragically short and, for this reason, they are often added during a death scene to give the anime that extra dramatic flair. Sakura is also a very common girls' name.

Money-hungry Women: In Japan, women are responsible for managing the household budget. Men bring home wages and women dole out allowances to their husbands. For this reason, women are often teased for being either overly interested, or completely uninterested, in cash flow. Nanami in El-Hazard, Lina Inverse in Slayers, and Sakura in Key the Metal Idol were all women out to make a buck…many bucks, in fact.

Prayer Beads: Religious characters are often adorned with long necklaces of large beads. These prayer beads are similar in function to the Christian rosary and are used to keep track while reciting the name of the Buddha. Most of these necklaces have 108 beads, symbolizing the 108 evil passions denounced in Buddhism.


Women with Guns: Stereotypically, Japanese women are seen as soft-spoken and shy by the outside world. Therefore, many viewers are amazed at the number of gun-toting women characters in anime and manga. Even though Japan is still highly gender-role oriented, what most people fail to realize is that women have a very large, very important position in Japanese culture. Throughout the country's history, many women have been featured prominently for their courage and compassion. By including strong female characters, anime and manga are helping to destroy the misconception that Japanese women are weak, meek, and mild.

Left-handedness: Although this is relevant only to manga, it is very interesting and has been included (since most anime fans also read, or at least look at, Japanese manga). It may seem that characters in Japanese comic books are all left-handed, which has led many to think that left-handedness is either an extremely common or highly respected trait. It's neither. Just as in America, most people are right handed. And that's the way they are drawn in the comic books. The switch comes when these books are marketed for the United States. Because the Japanese read from right to left, their books open opposite of the way ours do. To put them into a format more comfortable for Americans, the images are switched to their mirror-image so that the book can be read. This means that someone driving on the left side of the road in a Japanese comic book will appear as if he is driving down the right side in the American version. The same is true for any character writing with his or her right hand.

While these cultural references may shed some light on particular anime quirks, some things still can't be explained. For instance, why are women characters so often obsessed with food, and why do so many (seriously, TOO many) men dress in drag?

Read more »