Initiation Rites Research Articles

Initiation. Narrative. Identity. On the Relationship Between the Compositional Units of the Narrative and Initiation Rites

Historical Roots of the Fairy Tale, a book by V. Propp, still evokes mixed reviews from folklore researchers who critically perceive the main idea of ​​the work: the compositional elements of fairy tale plots are based on the ancient initiation rite. The Morphology of the Fairy Tale studies narrative systems; it was organically accepted by both researchers of mythopoetics and those studying contemporary narratives of new media, as well as scriptwriters-­practitioners. Whereas the ideas of the second book were perceived with great caution and were almost not considered productive. Even the supporters of the structural-­semiotic approach, taking into account both the different levels of text organisation and the disclosure of its semantic depths, saw prospects for the development of humanitarian knowledge, based on the opposition of their theories to Propp’s historical-­genetic method. However, it is essential that the ritual practices of initiation, underlying the compositional units of the narrative, performed the main socio-­cultural function of introducing the initiate into the life of the community through the acquisition of identity. Providing identity, the transitional rite of initiation essentially testified to the entry of the neophyte into life, endowed them with a status in the social hierarchy. Propp’s idea of ​​the connection between plots and ritual forms was reflected in such artistic practices as the dramaturgy of feature films, which gravitates toward a clear script structure.

Ritual Violence and Traditions of Origin: Mung'aro in Mijikenda History

Abstract This article analyzes the transformation of an image of ritual violence on the Kenyan coast from the sixteenth century to the present. Drawing on a range of sources, it shows how understandings of “mung'aro” — a ritual of senior male initiation among Mijikenda-speaking peoples — changed as it became an object of inquiry for generations of missionaries, explorers, colonial administrators, local intellectuals, and foreign historians and anthropologists. In the mid-twentieth century, mung'aro became a key feature of Mijikenda traditions of origin in Singwaya, but in such a way that it reversed the direction of a specific form of ritual violence described in nineteenth-century traditions. By focusing on the transposition and recombination of ritual motifs across practical and discursive modalities (namely, ritual and narrative), this article offers a new approach to “the limits of invention” regarding traditions of origin.

Ulwaluko: A critical site for black theological reflection

Ulwaluko is an essential rite of passage for men in the Xhosa community in South Africa. This particular initiation rite of passage is a critical part of the transition from boyhood to manhood. In a post-apartheid South Africa, this African practice has received criticism for promoting gender and sexual exclusion with some calling for a halt to the practice. Using Simon Maimela’s theological anthropology and Jackson’s concept of modern slavery as human plasticity, I attempt to expose how post-apartheid constitutionalism has epistemically distorted the theological anthropology of this rite of passage. This is done acknowledging Ulwaluko theologically within the context of African holism. This, I argue, has had significant ethical implications for society. Recognising it as a site of black theological reflection using Maimela’s theological anthropology, I argue that this particular practice can positively influence discourses on morality in South Africa.Contribution: This article makes a theological contribution by situating African and black theology of liberation discourse within the epistemic framework of Ulwaluko as an initiation rite of passage. Recognising the prevalence of initiation rites of passage in South Africa, this discourse attempts to contribute towards thinking about the creation of humanity from these spaces of formation. This I do in the very challenging contexts within which Ulwaluko is practised.

Faith and food in rural Malawi: an investigation into the sociocultural determinants of household food security

ABSTRACT This study demonstrates that religion and culture play a substantial role in shaping the dietary preferences of rural Malawians. Therefore, it is imperative that cultural and specifically religious factors are given due consideration when devising strategies aimed at alleviating household food insecurity and promoting food security. Despite years of substantial agricultural output, household food insecurity remains a persistent problem, primarily due to sociocultural factors that influence how food is consumed within households. It has been proven that social activities such as weddings, initiation ceremonies, and funerals can significantly impact a household’s food status. The study underscores the need for policymakers to incorporate cultural factors into food security interventions to produce more effective and equitable policies.

Ritual, Media, and Alienation: Three Cases of Constructing the Image of a School Shooter in Russian Media in the Context of the Ritual of Chiral Initiation

Mass school shootings in Russia have become a symbol of deep social and cultural dysfunctions, reflecting a crisis of identity and youth alienation. The paper emphasizes the importance of exploring how the media constructs the image of a school shooter, influencing public perception and the perception of the perpetrators themselves. The media’s role in intensifying the alienation and marginalization of shooters through the ritualization and narrativization of acts of violence requires in-depth analysis. The aim of the study is to analyze the phenomenon of school shootings through the lens of the ritual of chiral initiation and to identify the sociocultural factors contributing to the construction of the shooter’s image. The analysis shows that media coverage of school shootings follows a ritualized script that reinforces the perception of the shooter as an alienated and dangerous individual, cementing his marginal status. The “Non-Return” stage in the chiral initiation ritual illustrates the shooter’s irreversible break from society and self-identity. The study underscores the need for a comprehensive analysis of the media and cultural factors shaping public opinion about school shooters. The target audience of this study includes scholars in sociology, cultural studies, and anthropology, as well as professionals involved in media studies and public safety.

Traditions of Jayawijaya Muslim Society: Some Perspectives from Islam and Customs

This article explores the compromises made between local customs (adat) and Islamic religious practices in the daily lives of Muslim communities in Jayawijaya, Indonesia. Adat and Islam are two influential elements that profoundly shape societal norms, and their interaction often leads to a dynamic negotiation of values and practices. When Islamic teachings are introduced into a community with deeply rooted traditions, there is often tension between the demands of religion and established cultural customs. This phenomenon is not unique to Jayawijaya. Similarly, when Islam was first revealed in Arab society, it encountered established traditions and customs that had been passed on for generations. In Jayawijaya, local customs are deeply embedded in the lives of Muslims, including initiation ceremonies, marriages, funerals, and other sacred rituals. A significant aspect of these rituals is the communal pig feast, which traditionally occurs in the silimo (courtyard) of homes. Recognizing the need to harmonize these practices with Islamic teachings, the author endeavors to standardize these rituals by replacing pigs with animals that are halal (permissible) for consumption and aligning ceremonies with Islamic law. This study sheds light on the intricate balance between preserving cultural heritage and adhering to religious obligations, thereby providing a framework for similar contexts in which religion and tradition intersect.

The ecology of Nkolola girls’ initiation rites in the Middle Zambezi Valley, northwestern Zimbabwe

ABSTRACT Drawing on five years of intermittent ethnographic fieldwork, this article examines the ritual ecology of the Nkolola girls’ initiation practice of the Tonga-speaking people of Mola, Zimbabwe. It focuses on the materiality framework to demonstrate the environmental contingencies of this ritual and how the breakdown of Nkolola indicates an environmental crisis. There are specific materials required for this ritual, but extreme weather patterns such as continuous droughts and heatwaves have made it challenging to gather essential items like red ochre, traditional herbs, firewood, and tree branches, as well as access to perennial rivers and streams needed to properly perform the ritual. The article discusses the importance of these materials in each stage of the ritual, as well as the significant consequences of their absence, including avoidance and delays in conducting the ceremony. It also explores an alternative ritual that is less material-intensive and demanding of natural resources.

Leveraging Gods’ Influence in Sustaining Byelaws in Ghana: A Case of Dipo Practice in Yilo-Krobo

This article explored the extent to which the gods’ factor in the development and implementation process of Dipo, a womanhood initiation rite of the Krobo people of Ghana, had regulated sexual behaviour among young people. The Dipo womanhood rite has been introduced by the gods many centuries ago as an important part of the socialization process. The study adopted the quantitative research design approach. The target population was all young girls within the age bracket of 15-24 years in Yilo Krobo, which was purposively selected for this study because the Dipo rite was a unique indigenous culture of the people. The simple random sampling technique infomed the selection of the respondents. In all, 284 indigenous young girls, 15-24 years old in Yilo-Krobo, Ghana were structurally interviewed to ascertain the power of Dipo practice and the gods’ influences on its sustenance. STATA 14.0 was adopted to analyse the data. Findings revealed the need for re-visitation (Sankofa) of some past practices and entrench them for development in the present. Further, the study revealed a strong correlation between the gods’ element and the development and implementation success of Dipo, which tends to highlight the relevance of divine command in development. The article espoused the values of African traditional practices and stimulated discussions on leveraging the gods’ factor in the process of policy development and implementation in Ghana. Byelaws are very likely to be sustained with compliance if residents are sensitized to believe that they were formulated with the endorsement of the gods of the land. Largely, the average Ghanaian strongly believes that the lesser gods or divinities play a crucial role in their wellbeing and the development of their society. The study therefore recommends the need to apply the gods’ factor in policy initiatives to attain compliance and sustainability for development in Ghana.

A Religio-Cultural Inquiry into the Spiritual Journey of a Fiasidi through Initiation Rites at the Trokosi Shrines in Klikor, Ghana

Initiation rites play a pivotal role in shaping cultural identity, reinforcing societal norms, and facilitating the transmission of cultural values from one generation to the next. Using a qualitative approach which was supported by interpretive philosophy, the study explored the initiation rites of a Fiasidi which involves a series of rituals, ceremonies, and teachings that are designed to prepare young girls or women for their ritual responsibilities in serving Torgbui Adzima shrines in Klikor, Ghana. A case study was used in the research. Observations, document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and audiovisual materials were used to gather data. The opinions and experiences of fifteen (15) participants, including high priests, priestesses, ritual functionaries, petitioners, and Fiasidiwo (initiates), were sampled using the purposive sampling approach. Thematic analysis was used to do an inductive study of the data. The study revealed that three main rituals feature in the initiation rites of a Fiasidi in Klikor. These are Godedegome (puberty rite), Gatete (Fiasidi’s homecoming), and Flaxoxo (purification rite). The study concluded that the Troxovi shrines are effective in ensuring social order and discipline and promoting African indigenous knowledge and spirituality among the Anlo-Ewe communities. It recommended that other ritual performances such as performing libation, wailing wall prayers, and traditional dance forms be explored by other researchers. The study has contributed to providing insights into cultural diversity, and spiritual identity and illuminating the significance of ritual practices in various fields including social anthropology, African aesthetics, and African traditional religion. Keywords: Initiation Rites, Fiasidi Tradition, Troxovi Shrines, Klikor, Deities

The evolution of cultural diversity in Pama-Nyungan Australia

Explaining the processes that produce cultural diversity has long been a focus of anthropological study. Whilst linguistic diversity has frequently been shown to be associated with population splitting during migrations, much less is known about the influence of migration patterns on other forms of culture. Here we compare variation between different cultural types to understand whether their diversity might also be a consequence of historic population change. For our case study, we developed a dataset of 90 cultural traits recorded across around 100 societies in Pama-Nyungan Australia focusing on three cultural forms important in Australian life: adolescent initiation, mortuary practice and rock art motifs. Trait diversity was analysed using phylogenetic methods and compared with language diversity since previous studies have suggested an association between Pama-Nyungan language evolution and population dispersal. We were able to demonstrate a strong association between the phylogenetic history of language and initiation ritual but not between language and mortuary ritual or rock motifs. The finding suggests population migration may have had a significant influence on initiation ritual diversity. It also lends support to the idea, as suggested by some authors, that the development of complex initiation practices may have played an active role in the dispersal of Pama-Nyungan speakers throughout the Australian continent. Our study results suggest that the type of phylogenetic comparative approach applied here can make an important contribution to the reconstruction of deep cultural history over long timescales.

San Bushman Human–Lion Transformation and the “Credulity of Others”

Lion transformation, among San-Bushmen, is arguably the most dramatic and spectacular instance of animal transformation. Transformation is a central component of San curing and initiation ritual and of certain San hunting practices. Moreover, it is a recurrent theme in San mythology, art and cosmology, all of them domains of San expressive and symbolic culture that are pervaded by ontological mutability (manifested most strikingly in the therianthropes of San myth and art). Lion transformation is a phenomenon that has received much mention in the ethnographic literature on Khoisan ritual and belief, through information that is based not on first-hand but second- or third-hand ethnographic and ethno-historical information. In the paper, I describe my own eye-witness account of what San people deemed a lion transformation by a trance dancer, which I observed in my early field work among Ghanzi (Botswana) Naro and = Au//eisi San in the 1970s. This is followed by my own musings on the actuality or reality of lion transformation, from both my own perspective and from what I understand to be the indigenous perspective. In terms of the latter, lion transformation—and animal transformation in general—is a plausible proposition. Indigenous doubt and scepticism, deriving from a rarely if ever fully conclusive witnessing of such transformations, are assuaged in a number of epistemological, cosmological and phenomenological ways. These are not available to a Western cultural outsider with a Cartesian mindset, nor to a Westernized—and perhaps also Christianized—insider, whose cosmos has become “disenchanted” through historical–colonial and contemporary–acculturational influences.

Acceptability of Medical Male Circumcision as an HIV Prevention Intervention among Male Learners in a South African High School.

Circumcision is a long-standing and frequently performed surgical procedure which holds significant cultural significance among AmaXhosa people in South Africa. Due to cultural reasons in some parts of Africa, the integration of medical male circumcision with traditional manhood initiation rituals still lacks acceptance. This study examined the level of knowledge and acceptance of voluntary male medical circumcision (VMMC) among young males in a selected high school in the Nyandeni District of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted, and a self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of VMMC, perceptions of VMMC, and circumcision practices. One hundred participants were recruited from both grades 11 and 12, and 82% of the participants indicated that they had received information about VMMC. Most of the respondents (88%) preferred traditional male circumcision (TMC), and only 12% of respondents preferred VMMC. The participants displayed a good understanding of the distinction between VMMC and TMC. However, results from the study showed that most respondents exhibited low acceptability and knowledge towards VMMC. These findings highlight the need to develop evidence-based strategies to enhance learners' knowledge and acceptance of VMMC.

KAPALIKA, KAMA-KALA AND KUTEITUNDI SIVALAYA: APPROPRIATION OF ESOTERIC EROTIC RITUALS IN EARLY MEDIEVAL TEMPLE ART OF ODISHA

Tantra, with its extensive rituals and practices that involve complex and detailed rituals, holds a significant position in the religious life of India. The information was considered highly classified and was only shared by the instructor with the disciple who had undergone the appropriate initiation. While the Tantras are no longer strongly disliked, they remain relatively obscure and their significance is not widely understood. The primary objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the subject, focusing specifically on the temple art of early medieval period in Odisha. Alexis Sanderson made significant advancements in understanding the social, theological, and political context in which the existing texts and rites were created. He reconstructed the processes that contributed to the prominent status of Saivism in the medieval Indic world. Historically, Ta¯ntrik-Saivism expanded beyond the periphery of society and became a prominent religious movement that interacted with the mainstream. Over time, it gained dominance in the religious and socio-political discussions of early medieval Odishan temple art and the Ka¯pa¯lika sect of Saivism. The growth mentioned is naturally evident in the rituals and modifications made to the structure of the initiatory society. By this time, the community included not only ascetic practitioners who were fully dedicated to Saiva religious practice, but also Brahmanical householders who followed the Ta¯ntrik tradition. The growing involvement with the mainstream resulted in the development of exoteric initiation rites, some of which granted spiritual advantages without necessitating the applicant to fully embrace a Saiva ceremonial lifestyle in Ta¯ntrik activities. This essay primarily focuses on this objective.

FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION: A THREAT TO FEMALE SPORTS PARTICIPATION IN EKITI STATE

Female Genital Mutilation is widespread among the various ethnic groups and socio-economic groups and classes and it is usually practice for cultural, religious, and ritual purposes, often as part of initiation rite into womanhood. Noting that the health of a girl-child is paramount to effective sport participation among elites. Without an optimal healthy living among female or girl-child, sports participation will be male gender focused, leading to gender inequality in sports. Hence, the researcher seek to examine female genital mutilation as impediment to sports participation amongst girl-child in Ekiti State. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for this study and two hundred (200) respondents were selected using multi-staged sampling techniques. A self-constructed questionnaire was developed by the researcher to collect data for the study. The instrument was validated by experts and a reliability coefficient of 0.86 was obtained using split half method of reliability. All data collected was analysed using inferential statistics of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Regression to test the hypotheses set for the study at 0.05 level of significance. From the results of the study, that female Genital Mutilation had significant impact on health of a girl-child/women in the society and thereby affecting female sport participation in Ekiti State. Majorly, psychological trauma and health implications of FGM tends to have significant impact on sport participation of females in sport. The researcher therefore recommended that planned health education campaigns are mandatory to elude the drawbacks of female genital mutilation and hazards of continuation of the practice so as to promote the healthy living of female in order to facilitate their participation in sport as well as maintain a balance of gender equality in sport.

Having a seat at the table—A feminist autoethnography of the university kitchen

Research on the social construction of the scientific personality has shown that one is not simply born a scientist, but rather becomes one through processes of social recognition and attribution. By emphasizing the reciprocal constitution of gender and science, the notion of science as (gender) neutral and objective has been rejected. Although feminist scholars have always recognized the complex ways in which gender (and other social categories) play an important role in how people can or cannot inhabit spaces, little attention has been paid to the role of the university kitchen and its practices in becoming a scholar, and the role of gender in the appropriation of this academic space. The article addresses this research void by using a feminist autoethnographic approach to situate the author’s personal experiences within a broader cultural and social context. The findings show that the practices that take place in the university kitchen (e.g. conversations around the kitchen table) can be understood as symbolic practices in which symbolic capital can be accumulated. These practices are a crucial initiation rite for early career researchers, as they show whether one belongs to the scientific field. Findings suggest that (bodily) orientations shape how the university kitchen appears and what it means to inhabit this space. The results indicate that female early career researchers encounter physical and psychological borders when trying to access the university kitchen. The article thus points to the subtle mechanisms of exclusion and distinction that contradict the self-image of science. Implications for early career researchers and scientific practice are discussed.

The Views of Amakrwala on the Usage of Umqombothi and Commercial Alcohol during the Initiation Ceremonies

Alcohol has been used in many African countries like Tanzania and Kenya to celebrate important cultural ceremonies for many decades. In the context of amaXhosa, they use both umqombothi (traditional beer) and different types of brandy to celebrate ulwaluko (initiation process). The use of umqombothi and commercial alcohol by initiates during the initiation is integral to the initiation process of amaXhosa. This paper therefore presents the findings on the views of amakrwala (new initiates) on the usage of umqombothi and commercial alcohol during the initiation ceremonies. A qualitative research approach was employed using an exploratory-descriptive and contextual design sampling 16 amaXhosa young men between the ages of 18 to 24 years who recently graduated from ulwaluko. Semi-structured telephonic interviews were conducted. Themes such as different rituals practiced by amaXhosa, meaning of umqombothi and commercial alcohol use, and recommendations based on alcohol usage in ulwaluko by amakrwala emerged in the study. Both umqombothi and brandy use during ulwaluko was viewed as good practice by amakrwala. However, they emphasised that guidelines should be put in place to monitor responsible drinking. Based on these findings, it can be concluded and recommended that there should be guidelines on who, how and when alcohol should be used during the initiation ceremonies, and for what purposes.

Towards a Reflective Stance of Honor and Dignity – An Inquiry into the Use of Force by Analyzing the US Navy’s Crossing the Line Ritual

ABSTRACT In this article, I examine the meaning of the use of force for military professionals by analyzing the US Navy’s Crossing the Line ceremony. Ambiguity surrounds the initiation ritual for crossing the equator onboard naval warships, especially as it comes to its form prior to the late 1990s. All the while, the US Navy has maintained that the ceremony is part of a long tradition for teaching the values of honor, commitment and courage. Inspired by Max van Manen’s approach to phenomenological writing ([1984]. “Practicing Phenomenological Writing.” Phenomenology + Pedagogy 2 (1): 36–69; [2016]. Writing in the Dark: Phenomenological Studies in Interpretive Inquiry. London: Routledge), I explicate the idea that the ceremony, in its former form, did indeed teach the value of honor, but through inversion, acting out the worst possible behavior imaginable for military professionals in the form of a black mass, while the ceremony in its current form teaches the value of individual dignity as a professional obligation. The inquiry concludes with a reflective stance of honor and dignity as moral principles for enabling and constraining the use of force. Derived from the experience of a particular military practice, the stance also has general significance, helping navigate the line between thoughtlessness and thoughtful actions within a social framework, not unlike the just war tradition.

Christianization of Akpéma and Kondona Initiation Rites and Their Desecration by the Catholic Church in the Prefecture of Kozah in Northern Togo

The objective of this research is to examine the impact of the celebration of akpéma and kondona rites in church on their sacredness. The survey covered 80 people, including 25 catholic priests and 55 guarantors of Kabyè habits and customs, through to purposive sampling. Direct observation, individual interview and documentary research are the data collection techniques used. The data collected was subject to content analysis. The results indicate that upon entering the church, the akpéma and kondona rites were remodeled, losing everything that founded their sacredness: the eponymous ancestor, the sacred place, the mythical time, the founding myths, the bloody sacrifices, the person of the celebrant (cojo) and his verbal words. However, some new landmarks allow us to note an attempt at their resacralization by the church.

Divine Breath and the Process of Creation. The Allusions to Gen 2:7 in the Catechetical Rhetoric of Cyril of Jerusalem

Previous scholarship inadequately acknowledged the diverse ways in which Cyril of Jerusalem employed the breath-related vocabulary related to or derived from Gen 2:7. A systematic analysis of Cyril’s catechetical homilies revealed that in his rhetoric, this vocabulary was utilized in several distinct contexts. First, it was used to describe the creation of humans as living beings. Secondly, the vocabulary depicted a pre-Pentecost mediation of the Holy Spirit. Thirdly, the Pentecostal outpouring of the Spirit could be interpreted as another form of “breathing.” Fourthly, breath-related vocabulary was employed in reference to three ecclesiastical rites of initiation, indicating their pneumatological significance. This collective utilization of Biblical accounts of breathing, alongside depictions of post-Biblical ecclesiastical rites, formed a coherent narrative aimed at instructing catechetical audiences about the historical sequence of human creation. This narrative encompassed the divine vivification of the tangible body and postlapsarian revivification through the Holy Spirit. Simultaneously, it became evident that Cyril’s use of this vocabulary aligned with his overall allusionary approach to employing Scripture in catechesis.

Черты романа инициации в биографическом графическом романе Пьера Кристена и Себастьяна Вердье «Оруэлл»

The aim of the research is to define the distinctiveness of the initiation graphic novel in contemporary literature. The article explores the representation of the initiation ritual in the artistic text while considering the genre synthetism features of the work, incorporating elements of dystopia and biographical graphic novel. The key points of the composition of the novel "Orwell" by P. Kristen and S. Verdie are highlighted, and the evolution of the protagonist's inner world, main characters, and symbols in the work are analyzed. The research novelty lies in the in-depth analysis of the genre synthesis of the graphic novel and initiation novel, an endeavor not previously undertaken in either domestic or foreign contemporary literary studies. The investigation contributes a certain theoretical insight: it proves the tendency towards the crossing of genre types in the texts of 21st-century authors, using the graphic novel as a prime example – an incredibly relevant genre today. Furthermore, the conducted analysis reveals the specifics of representing human maturation in contemporary literature and identifies the initiation ritual as an integral part of fictionalized biography. The research demonstrates that in the graphic novel "Orwell" by P. Kristen and S. Verdie, the narrative of initiation plays a crucial role, serving as the foundation of the work, with its tripartite structure and genre-defining characteristics.