Becoming a warrior
But consider our friend Naabala didn't become a Maasai warrior overnight. First, he needed to prove himself. When we were visiting his community, Naabala told us about the first step in these ceremonial rites of passage. He started out at age five by fetching water. When he had shown he was responsible, eight-year-old Naabala was charged with taking care of his family’s cattle.
This isn't just a typical chore – it's a great honour. Livestock is vital to a family's welfare. If one is lost to a predator, it affects the family's food and income source. Naabala explained he was nervous. But, after a pep talk from his father and advice from the elder warriors, he soon honed his watchful eye and began developing his survival skills.
He also proved he could make a vital contribution to his family and, one day, become a formidable warrior. Naabala explained this responsibility came with a great sense of purpose, and his family celebrated accomplishment. It helped prepare him for his final initiation as a warrior and the transition into adulthood.
Prolonging adolescence
In North America, young people are too often viewed as adults-in-waiting. In the absence of formal rituals, many youths end up creating their own milestones associated with alcohol, drugs, sex or consumption.
In the absence of clear markers of adulthood, we see a dramatic prolonging of adolescence throughout our society. As we walked with Naabala – who so proudly dressed in the traditional red cloth that marked him as a warrior – we couldn't imagine him living in his parents' basement playing videogames well into his 20s.
Naabala's rites of passage occurred throughout his childhood. Each one carried great honour, and at 12 he was ready to prepare for the final step towards adulthood. Naabala was asked to clear a spot on his father's land and build himself a mud hut. This would be his adult home once he completed his warrior initiation.
Over a period of several months, Nabaala submitted to tests of his courage, fortitude and skill. At one point, under the supervision of the village elders, he had to anger a colony of stinging fire ants before lying down among them. The boy was not allowed to show pain or discomfort through the ants’ feast. The same was true for another ritual in which hot embers were placed on his skin.
Page 1 of 2 - See how to implement rites of passage in your home on page 2.
