Answer to Question #216683 in Psychology for Ayanda

Question

5.1Explain the rite of passage in your own words.2marks

5.2 Identify and explain 2 rites of passage in traditional african cultures.6marks

5.3 identify and explain 2 rites of passage in your own culture.6marks

5.4what did you learn from yourself when answering this question?

Answer 1

5.1

A rite of passage is a ritual, event, or experience that symbolizes or signifies a significant turning point or transformation in one's life. Rites of passage commemorate the social migration of persons into and out of groups, as well as into and out of crucial positions in the individual's and community's lives.

5.2

African societies have always recognized the passage of a person's life cycle from the day they are born to the day they die since time immemorial. These significant milestones are commemorated with one-of-a-kind festivities known as "rites of passage." These rituals are vital to Africans because they represent the important stages in life that everyone goes through, as well as the societal expectations that each stage entails. Children are viewed as the caretakers of their people's traditions, which makes them an important element of African society. Because of the high rates of child mortality in some nations, many societies go to great lengths to honor children and protect them from evil spirits. The Himba people of Namibia never leave a newborn kid alone, or even put him or her down, for fear of it being stolen by evil spirits. The Wodaabe people of Niger wait until the child is 12 years old to name him or her in the hopes that the child will not be recognized by the spirit of death. The Maasai tribe in Kenya entrusts the task of naming a newborn child to community elders, who must choose a name immediately after the infant is born.

Depending on the community, death is seen in a variety of ways. While some tribes think that death marks the end of a person's life journey, others believe that people who have died are simply resting. Others think that the ghosts of the deceased are continually keeping an eye on them. The Yoruba people of Nigeria bury their dead with a plethora of items, including food, clothing, and fowls. Other Nigerian tribes bury their dead with spears, shields, pans, and pots to ensure that they will have everything they need in the afterlife. Before a person is buried in South Africa, unique rites are done at the deceased person's home. To ensure that the deceased cannot see the portraits, they are turned to face the wall and all mirrors, windows, and reflective surfaces are covered. The person's bed is also removed from their bedroom, and relatives and friends hold a night vigil at his home.

5.3

As the child grows older, he or she must undergo a circumcision ceremony to become an adult. My group used to practice female circumcision, which has now been made illegal in several African countries. While some tribes continue to practice female genital mutilation, many others have embraced new customs that are less detrimental to females. Male circumcision is done in my culture, and initiates are escorted to a secluded location, generally a forest, where their foreskins are removed by an appointed circumciser using a specific knife.

Marriage is a significant event that many cultures regard as a spiritually transformative experience. Marriage is frequently arranged among the Surma people of Ethiopia following a stick fighting competition in which young men batter each other viciously with sticks to prove their readiness to become spouses. Girls who are getting set to marry sit around and watch as their future husbands cane each other into obedience. Each female chooses her favorite warrior in the competition and expresses her love in him by sending him indirect messages through friends and family. Women who are attractive, hardworking, and pleasant are frequently chosen as wives initially.

5.4

I discovered that traditional African ethnic groups employed a complex ceremonial framework to communicate cultural ideas and philosophy, as well as to ease the transition from adolescence to maturity. The importance of rites of passage in nation-building and African socialization cannot be overstated. Identifying the various stages of a person's development, as well as their interpersonal and community role. It is the promotion of social symbols that give a community its identity as well as the individual's absorption into something larger than themselves.