Warrior's Rite Of Passage In Maasai

Throughout the lifespan, individuals experience distinctive stages that integrate innovative responsibilities, values, and expected behavior. In an endeavor to appreciate and illustrate the coming of age, many cultures participate in initiation, or rite of passage, rituals. These initiations “include strenuous tests to move childhood into adulthood… [And] a positive reaction to these tests is seen as a sign of growing maturity” (Rogoff, 2003, p. 174). Of the abundant rituals performed in cultures, a common ritual emerges – the initiation of boys and girls into manhood and womanhood. When viewing the Coming of Age ceremonies this week, I chose to discuss the warrior’s rite of passage, practiced in the Maasai tribe, because of its taboo appearance,
As clarified in the movie clip, the warrior’s rite of passage remains, “more of a spiritual event, then it is a physical event” (Kenya CitizenTV, 2010). This ritual, or rite of passage, does not symbolize the physical transition into manhood, emphasizing body changes or circumcision. Rather, this transition exemplifies a passage that influences the human spirit and soul, predisposed by religious beliefs. With a foundation in the human being, the warrior’s rite of passage aids in the exploration and identity of the self, in comparison to the outside society. Young boys not only discover their new responsibilities and expectations in a society, but also discover growth, power, and strength in their shifting presence. These warriors no longer rest as young boys, but rather designated men, who will carry of the ritual with future generations. With the complete presence of their whole age group, boys transition into a inexperienced period in their life – adulthood. I found strength in this rite of passage, as it unites an entire community, despite individual differences. Every boy comes together to celebrate a transitional point in their life, finding a community in their shifting