Rites Festival, is a traditional West African rites of passage, from antiquity, was revived towards the end of colonial rule. Various aspects of these rites are practiced throughout W. Africa from Ivory Coast to Benin Republic. My hope of this project is to aid these communities, so these traditional rites may continue & not disappear due to financial inability or foreign religious intolerance (mainly from Christians) who would prefer to see the various aspects of rites stopped or subdued, due to public nudity exposure.
It is important to mention, this is a traditional, customary, rites of passage, 500-1,000yrs old, is under threat of disappearance because of changing social values and norms. Though, under certain occasions the young ladies are full clothed, on other ritual occasions they will perform half-naked. This is NOT to offend NOR as sexual content, but to present historical public festivals, without prejudice from western social ideas and norms. Decolonizing African rites.