Vanessa Evers, 163, An Opera of the West African Bondo

The Temne people consider the coming-of-age ceremony to be equally as important as birth and death and an essential part of the process of becoming a member of society. For example, it would unthinkable for a man to propose to a woman who had not done Bondo. Further, this rite of passage is essential for the sexualization of the Temne person. Before being initiated, all children are called females, even if they are boys. Following the ceremony, the females and males have claimed their gender identities, and they are suitable to be considered for marriage and to assume the responsibilities of adulthood in general.

If we compare this process that so clearly delineates childhood from adulthood to mainstream non-religious cultures in the United States, we see how several of the conflicts that so commonly arise in adolescence in the U.S are caused the lack of structure and clarity of societal role. In the U.S., several adolescents struggle to find their place in their families, in their social group, or in society overall. This confusion can often times manifest itself in harmful forms, such as drug use or gang involvement. Another example could be of a young woman who is aware of developing hips and breasts and feels confused by her development of this womanly body despite her psychological immaturity. Consequently, she may subconsciously try to delay puberty by developing an eating disorder, which would also allow her to conform to the media standards of beauty. This maladaptive attempt to reconcile her changing social and biological role is a result of the ambiguous social treatment of adolescence. These issues would probably not occur in the Temne culture for a variety of reasons, including the fact that the Bondo ceremony gives youth a sense of place and purpose.

One of the ways in which this direction is conveyed through the Bondo ritual is through the use of symbolism in dance and song. Some of the main themes are self-affirmation, honoring of the ancestors, and general guidance, which are clear in the lyrics of the songs. An example of the emphasis on contentment and self-assurance is in the line “I may not be a good plower, but I’ve secured my own plot. It doesn’t matter. I don’t want anyone else.” This line teaches the dancers to be happy with themselves and their current situations. Second, the ancestors are honored throughout the Bondo, and one of the examples is “Sacred elders, we salute you!” Here, the women are given a sense of self relative to their antecedents. Lastly, the line, “Hey, this is how it’s done, my child. Step as your companions are stepping” teaches the women to rely on one another and provides them with general purpose and support.