Male initiation rites among makonde residents in the Military Zone, Sommerschield Neighborhood, Maputo City

Abstract

Initiation rites constitute one of the main vehicles for transmitting moral and civic values ​​to new generations, complying with the cultural specificities of a considerable part of the Mozambican population. The research seeks to understand the role of initiation rites in the construction of male identity in the aforementioned community. It followed the participant observation technique and the qualitative analysis approach, aiming to understand the phenomenon studied from the perspective of the actors directly involved in the process. The research results allow us to conclude that these rites have undergone some transformations over time, and that the transition from the category of child to adulthood requires appropriate rituals for the social transformation of the subject. The study reveals that the objective of these initiation rites is to instill the spirit of courage, tests of resistance and the perception that the man is the guardian of the family.