Coming-of-age rites are practiced in virtually every society in the world. In Africa, these rites offer an important opportunity for artists to produce works that celebrate in positive, public ways the achievements of young men and women who have "made the grade" and have become responsible adults in their communities.

How are initiation rites organized in Africa?
In most cases, coming-of-age rites are group activities designed to build character, foster productive adult behavior, and forge friendships and alliances among initiates who undergo the rites together. Boys and girls usually participate in separate rituals to acquire specialized knowledge they will use throughout their lives. Instruction often focuses on domestic life and daily work; fertility, marriage, and raising a family; and ritual responsibilities.

African coming-of-age rituals generally are organized into three distinct phases. The first is a rite of separation. The youth is physically and psychologically removed from the community and taken to a special enclosure where the rituals are held. Changes in clothing, diet, furnishings, and at times, language reinforce the separation.

A period of transition follows, lasting from a day to several months, depending on local practice. During this time the initiate may experience a symbolic death and rebirth that, in some African societies, is marked by physical alterations, such as circumcision, body decoration, or moderate weight gain to suggest robust health and well-being. In addition to receiving a new name, the initiate may participate in creating and using artworks as a way of learning about the functions as well as the aesthetic and symbolic qualities of objects.

During the final stage--a rite of reintegration--the initiate returns to the community, ready to embrace roles and responsibilities that come with being an adult. A joyous celebration, the public performance of music and dance, and the display of initiation artworks allow family and friends to recognize the initiates' achievements and new skills.

What is the role of art in initiation?
African arts of initiation help viewers understand the good character, knowledge, and positive values expected of adults. Depictions of the human body, which serve as the vehicle for the public display of ideal moral and social qualities, convey these values. For example, the elaborate coiffure, small facial features, high forehead, scarification marks, and lustrous black surface of helmet masks worn by members of the Sande women's society (fig. 1) reflect notions of feminine beauty that are linked to the ideal qualities of fecundity, intelligence, and discipline. Sculptural and performing arts used in coming-of-age rites emphasize the acquisition of special skills and knowledge that not only are part of initiation training but also come into play throughout one's lifetime. Prior to the introduction of Islam among the Baga of Guinea, for instance, men controlled the production and use of the large and impressive timba drum (fig. 2). Musicians played the drum during the final dances of male initiation rites as well as at other important occasions, including weddings, the funerals of male elders, ancestral offerings, and harvest celebrations.