Boy To Man | National Geographic

the Fulani tribes people known for their

the Fulani tribes people known for their nomadic ways and for some of the world’s

nomadic ways and for some of the world’s

nomadic ways and for some of the world’s more painful rites of passage in a

more painful rites of passage in a

more painful rites of passage in a remote region of northern benin west

remote region of northern benin west

remote region of northern benin west africa the pate prepares for his

africa the pate prepares for his

africa the pate prepares for his initiation ritual with the help of his

initiation ritual with the help of his

initiation ritual with the help of his older brother clans will gather from 50

older brother clans will gather from 50

older brother clans will gather from 50 miles around to see if he is braver than

miles around to see if he is braver than

miles around to see if he is braver than his opponent in a violent whipping match

his opponent in a violent whipping match

his opponent in a violent whipping match I lose I will be shamed centeno Nina

I lose I will be shamed centeno Nina

I lose I will be shamed centeno Nina because everyone from all of the

because everyone from all of the

because everyone from all of the different clans will be watching back at

different clans will be watching back at

different clans will be watching back at the village

the village

the village the boys enlist their father’s aid in

the boys enlist their father’s aid in

the boys enlist their father’s aid in choosing a branch that will inflict the

choosing a branch that will inflict the

choosing a branch that will inflict the most painful blow their father sharpens

most painful blow their father sharpens

most painful blow their father sharpens the stick so it will break the

the stick so it will break the

the stick so it will break the opponent’s skin finally it’s time to

opponent’s skin finally it’s time to

opponent’s skin finally it’s time to head off to battle the pate is excited

head off to battle the pate is excited

head off to battle the pate is excited in spite of the bloody test that awaits

in spite of the bloody test that awaits

in spite of the bloody test that awaits him meanwhile a young Fulani woman is

him meanwhile a young Fulani woman is

him meanwhile a young Fulani woman is undergoing her own rite of passage into

undergoing her own rite of passage into

undergoing her own rite of passage into adulthood today MA day will receive a

adulthood today MA day will receive a

adulthood today MA day will receive a full set of traditional facial tattoos

full set of traditional facial tattoos

full set of traditional facial tattoos and become a woman ma days tattoos will

and become a woman ma days tattoos will

and become a woman ma days tattoos will be done by a local artist Goku Rea he

be done by a local artist Goku Rea he

be done by a local artist Goku Rea he readies the needles he will use to make

readies the needles he will use to make

readies the needles he will use to make thousands of tiny pricks in ma day’s

thousands of tiny pricks in ma day’s

thousands of tiny pricks in ma day’s face

the hours long ritual will test the

the hours long ritual will test the girl’s bravery if she cries or shows

girl’s bravery if she cries or shows

girl’s bravery if she cries or shows pain then she will be shamed and the

pain then she will be shamed and the

pain then she will be shamed and the tattooing may be delayed until she is

tattooing may be delayed until she is

tattooing may be delayed until she is older before in scribing the painful

older before in scribing the painful

older before in scribing the painful tattoo Kaku Rey paints elaborate designs

tattoo Kaku Rey paints elaborate designs

tattoo Kaku Rey paints elaborate designs each carries a special meaning for the

each carries a special meaning for the

each carries a special meaning for the Fulani eyes on her temples will allow ma

Fulani eyes on her temples will allow ma

Fulani eyes on her temples will allow ma de to keep watch on her husband at all

de to keep watch on her husband at all

de to keep watch on her husband at all times cow tracks symbolize prosperity

requirement the beginning is the most

requirement the beginning is the most painful blood begins to mix with the ink

painful blood begins to mix with the ink

painful blood begins to mix with the ink but the artist continues after more than

but the artist continues after more than

but the artist continues after more than three hours the work is complete

according to Fulani tradition ma de is

according to Fulani tradition ma de is now a beautiful woman ready to consider

now a beautiful woman ready to consider

now a beautiful woman ready to consider marriage ma day has finished her

marriage ma day has finished her

marriage ma day has finished her initiation right but the pate is about

initiation right but the pate is about

initiation right but the pate is about to face his own test the pottery learns

to face his own test the pottery learns

to face his own test the pottery learns that his opponent will be a boy named

that his opponent will be a boy named

that his opponent will be a boy named mati from a neighboring clan first the

mati from a neighboring clan first the

mati from a neighboring clan first the Potter will whip mati three times and

Potter will whip mati three times and

Potter will whip mati three times and then he will have to endure the same

then he will have to endure the same

then he will have to endure the same whoever hits the other the hardest and

whoever hits the other the hardest and

whoever hits the other the hardest and flinches the least when hit himself will

flinches the least when hit himself will

flinches the least when hit himself will be declared the winner the crowd will

be declared the winner the crowd will

be declared the winner the crowd will determine who is bravest

it is an impressive performance motty’s

it is an impressive performance motty’s clan celebrates his bravery by showering

clan celebrates his bravery by showering

clan celebrates his bravery by showering him with white talc powder and placing

him with white talc powder and placing

him with white talc powder and placing coins on his forehead as a

coins on his forehead as a

coins on his forehead as a congratulatory gesture now it is the

congratulatory gesture now it is the

congratulatory gesture now it is the party’s turn to be beaten

the crowd roars he barely flinched when

the crowd roars he barely flinched when struck by his opponent’s weaker blows

struck by his opponent’s weaker blows

struck by his opponent’s weaker blows and he’s won the match though Bhupati

and he’s won the match though Bhupati

and he’s won the match though Bhupati skin is broken his spirit is not it is

skin is broken his spirit is not it is

skin is broken his spirit is not it is burning me it really hurts that I’m full

burning me it really hurts that I’m full

burning me it really hurts that I’m full of joy I’m very proud because I have won

of joy I’m very proud because I have won

of joy I’m very proud because I have won the potty has endured a painful ordeal

the potty has endured a painful ordeal

the potty has endured a painful ordeal and become an adult member of the Fulani

and become an adult member of the Fulani

and become an adult member of the Fulani tribe