Wrestling to become a man in Togo's ancestral rite of passage
Thousands of Kabye initiates wrestle in the annual rite as officials and tourists watch, with UNESCO recognition now under consideration.
5 Articles
5 Articles
Wrestling a rite of passage for young Togolese men
The bare-chested young men emerged from a forest ceremony in northern Togo chanting war songs, ready for the initiation tradition of “Evala” in which they wrestle to become men.Every mid-July, thousands of ethnic Kabye men aged 18 to 20 take part in the ancestral rite of passage in the west African
Radio France Internationale
Wrestling to become a man in Togo's ancestral rite of passage
Every mid-July, thousands of ethnic Kabye men aged 18 to 20 take part in the ancestral rite of passage in the west African nation's Kara region, hundreds of kilometres (miles) from the capital, Lome. And authorities hope it will soon be recognised by UNESCO as part of Togo's cultural heritage. Ahead of wrestling, the participating "Evalo", as the young men are called, must sport three small scars near each ear, made using blades. The next rite …
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