article
Boys' initiation rites among the Luguru of eastern Tanzania
Anthropos • 75 (3/4) • Published In 1980 • Pages: 369-382
By: Brain, James Lewton.
Abstract
Luguru youth are initiated into adulthood through extensive rites. For boys, the rituals involve isolation in a remote forest where they receive secret instructions as a group on a range of issues, including sexual intercourse, personal hygiene, politeness, and other preferred practices. For girls, the initiation instead requires living in isolation in a dark room for several months. This study discusses boys' initiation rites as having both symbolic and sociological functions relevant for understanding psychological tensions and power differentials between genders, generations, and lineage groups.
- Region
- Africa
- Sub Region
- Eastern Africa
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Anthropologist
- Document Rating
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Teferi Abate Adem; 2020
- Field Date
- 1965-1966
- Coverage Date
- 1965-1966
- Coverage Place
- Uluguru Mountains, Morogoro Region, Tanzania
- Notes
- James L. Brain
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 381-382)
- LCCN
- 07021775
- LCSH
- Luguru (African people)