Snake Mask Approaches During Initiates (Babyan) Return to Village

Photographer

Vansina, Jan

Date

• October 23, 1953-November 9, 1953

Summary

• During the official return to the village, a masked snake tries to enter the village and healers throw magic leaves to prevent it from doing so.
• The phases in these initiation rituals of the Kuba-Bushong are: preliminaries; first masks in village; "wall"; induction through wall and tunnel; camp in bush (no pictures!); forays of boys near village; return to village and dances of snake and salt; captured in net and the eating of rats; firebrand thrown over the wall at the end.