Sacrificial dog as part of Habiye male coming-of-age events
Habiye is the male coming of age ceremony that takes place every five years during which 'generations' of boys become men in the eyes of their family and friends. Some of the events include dancing wearing hats made of home-made baskets covered with cow dung and decorated with goat hair; wrestling; chasing down a dog, slaughtering it, cooking it and eating it; and learning to be a Kabiye man. In the Kabye culture, only men who have participated in these rites of passage can eat dog. This event took place in my village Affem Kabye soon after I started my service. What a surprise to see young guys preparing and eating dog!
