A study of African initiation rites, in view of offering an adequate Christian substitute /By Naomi M. Smith.
- 1961.
- v, 143 leaves : illustrations ; 29 cm.
Typescript. Chapter I. Introduction Chapter II. The Initiation Institution Chapter III. Existing Attitudes and Related Activities Chapter IV. Proposed Christian Indigenous Substitute Chapter V. Summary and Conclusions. Illustrations
The Problem -- Statement of the problem -- Importance of the study -- Organization of the Study -- Previous Study -- Source of Materials and Method of Procedure -- Definition of Terms. Brief Description and General Characteristics -- Value in the Tribal Society -- Relation to the community -- Relation to the family -- Relation to the individual -- Physical values -- Social values -- Educational values -- Religious values -- Emotional values -- Pagan Nature of the Rites -- Physiologically harmful -- Morally degrading -- Unsanitary conditions -- Ignorant and unscientific teaching -- False religion. Attitudes in Existence -- Attempts at Substitution -- Welfare Instruction -- The Berlin Lutheran Mission -- The Masasi experiment -- Christian initiation in Nyasaland -- Partial substitutes. Purpose of Transformation -- Functional Christian Substitute -- The community -- The family -- The individual -- Preparation for the initiation camp -- Physical needs -- Social needs -- Mental needs -- Spiritual needs -- Emotional needs -- Follow-up work. A Gaza girl of the Ubangi area of the Congo in costume before the initiation rites -- Another Gaza girl of the same area before the initiation rites -- A Gaza girl in costume after having completed the rites -- Gaza boys painted with charcoal and dressed in bark cloth.