Collective Male Initiation Rituals of the Sambia
The transition of a boy to a man is very important to the Sambia, of New Guinea. This transition consists of an initiation ritual, which has 6 stages and takes between 13 and 20 years to complete. The first 3 stages are collectively focused, which I will discuss, and stages 4 through 6 are individually focused. This ritual helps to introduce the boys to male society, prepare them for adult responsibilities and is used to transmit culture (Nanda 2002: 132). The beliefs of the Sambia show a “warriors conception of manhood where men should be strong, brave, and unyielding in the pursuit of all tasks” (Herdt 1981: 50).
The first stage of initiation is called Moku and occurs between the ages of 7 and 10. The second stage is called Imbutuand occurs between the ages of 10 and 13. The third stage is called Ipmangwi and occurs between the ages of 14 and 16.
In the first stage of initiation the boys are taken from their mothers homes and taken to live at the men’s clubhouse. Here boys are given a ritual sponsor who is usually in the third or forth stage of initiation (Herdt 1981: 55). Early in the first stage is the stretching right. “The stretching rites are the initial stimulus to spur masculinity” (Herdt 1981: 223). In the stretching rites the boys are carried off into the woods by their ritual sponsor and sticks or switches are rubbed against the bodies of groups of boys by the elder males. The boy’s skin is rubbed and perforated. This is said to remove “sweat and the fine down of the boys cheeks, arms and legs” (Herdt 1981: 222) which are contaminants caused by close contact with their mothers. After this dangerous ritual their sponsor must carry the boys back to the men’s clubhouse.
One of the most important rituals in the first stage initiation is nose bleeding. This act is the most painful preformed on the initiates (Herdt 1981: 224). In this rite sharp blades of grass are stuck up the nose until it bleeds. This is done to remove any contaminated blood that is caused from extended contact with the boy’s mother (Herdt 1981: 223). This purifies the boys and enables them to move on to rites that will strengthen them.
After stretching and nose bleeding the initiate is given the ingestive rights.
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