differs in African countries was mentioned. Aesthetics. Religion and the Spiritual Realm. African societies are known for marking the different transitions of a person’s life cycle with different ritual or rites of passage. The bravery and endurance may be seen as a gateway to adulthood, the ability to face injury or even death in battle, or the trauma of childbirth. These rituals mark an individual’s transition from one stage of life to another. KEY WORDS: pregnancy, birth rites, naming rites, puberty rites, ritual Traditionally, African rites of passage have been rites which accompany every change of place, state, social position, and age (van Gennep, 1960). Unlike Western cultures that encourage individuals to find their own path in life by themselves, African cultures focus on building community through creating families. In many African societies, art plays an important role in various rites of passage throughout the cycle of life. By Dr. Christa Clarke, for The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The rite of passage is also a key aspect of the practice of scarification. Those undergoing scarification can experience a spiritual state of euphoria, which is related to the release of endorphins. Here again the writer made mention of the various ceremonies which accompany puberty and its significance in African traditional religion. In another chapter, puberty rites were mentioned as another rites of passage. The birth of a child, a youth’s coming of age, and the funeral of a respected elder are all events in which an individual undergoes a change of status. Rites of passage. Rites of passage in Africa can range from circumcision without anesthetic to birth charts and fattening rooms. Art and Politics. Themes and issues in the art of Africa. Form and meaning. Google Classroom Facebook Twitter. Email. Such rites, also called transitional rites, indicate and constitute transitions between states where transition is regarded as a process, a becoming, and even a transformation (Turner, 1987). The human figure, animals and symbols. Coming of Age: Alternative Rites of Passage for Maasai Girls 11/14/2012 08:26 am ET Updated Dec 06, 2017 The transition from girl to woman in nomadic groups in East Africa takes place in an age-old, four-day ritual in which the girls are dressed in their finest clothes and adorned with their most beautiful jewelry. Rites of passage.