Skeleton Coast Pride-Coming of Age Ceremony
During the birthing season, mothers make cheese in the stomach of a camel their own breast milk, mixed with either donkey, camel, or goat milk-depending what is available at the time and in that tribe. The cheese is put aside and fermented for ten years. The tribe believes that when the cheese is ready, the child is ready to come of age and receive their adult name in a special naming ceremony.
The child must prepare a feast to go with the cheese by hunting, foraging, and gathering whatever they can in three days. If they’ve been in one spot for a while, then they may have a garden they can harvest food from. After gathering some food, they prepare a meal and then offer this feast to their parents. During the feast, they thank their parents for the care and love shown through raising them. They give crafted gifts to each parent and any other adult who helped with the raising. The parents/adults then respond by providing household items created for the child, and a necklace of their baby teeth, carved with their new adult name. The village helps set up the new tent for the child to start their new life as an adult. The new adult unpacks their new presents and sets up house. They’re expected to invite their parents over a week later to prove that they can cope on their own.
Usually, there are several young ones who go through this ceremony, so their tents are often placed in a circle around a fresh campfire circle which they light together. They also help each other out, negotiating the world as an adult. The young adults spend 4-5 years learning further skills and gaining greater independence. Occasionally some pair off, and others end up leaving and going adventuring. Sometimes the whole group goes and starts their own new pride traveling separately from their parents.
History
The Skeleton coast is quite a rough and dangerous place. For the Skeleton Coast Pride, coming of age was quite an accomplishment as mortality rates were high. Parents were celebrated for keeping their young alive to adulthood. Initially it was celebrated at the age of 14 but over the years it got brought earlier and earlier until the age of 10 as the young leonins were taking greater and greater risks.
As the pride shifted from hunters to herders they began making cheese and other animal byproducts which became a central part of the tradition.
Execution
The child lays the table with a special tablecloth, crafted for the occasion. Then invites the adults to sit around the table. They bring out the food prepared for the occasion and serve the adults. The parents bring out the cheese and place it in the center of the table. The food is eaten except sure the cheese. The child recites praises and poetry that honours all those who have raised them. After the meal is completed, the parents kneel before their child and offer the cheese to the child as their final provision and nourishment.
There is a certain dialogue that always occurs.
The parents say:
" You were born (childhood name), You have grown as (childhood name) and been known as (childhood name).
Now you become an adult. Welcome (adult name). We are are honoured by your feast and welcome you into the pride as (adult name). We look forward to knowing you as (adult name)."
The child responds:
Thank you honoured ones for my new name. I shall be known.
Then they go and introduce themselves to everyone in the tent who offers a gift as they say "A pleasure to make your acquaintance". Each gift has the new name on it and often the childhood name is hidden somewhere on it as well. The gifts are all practical items for keeping house. Blankets, bowls, furniture etc.
Next they introduce themselves to their parents and are given a tent which everyone has helped make. The group then helps carry the new belongings over to the new tent site and after the new adult says "Yes this will do nicely" everyone sets up the tent together. The new adult sweeps the floor with a new broom and says "Welcome to the home of (adult name)" and everyone troops in nodding approval and bringing in the gifts.
Finally the child brings out the cheese and carves it into pieces and the adults bring out a bottle of wine and everyone has cheese and wine before making excuses to depart. Any leftover cheese is buried in the center of the tent.
Components and tools
A specially crafted table cloth, a tent, household items, a broom, the special cheese and other feast foods.
Participants
The key participants are the parents, aunties/anyone who helped raise the child and the child themselves.
Observance
Usually around the 10th birthday of the child-depending on when the cheese is ready. Often there will be a week of feasts as several children come of age at a similar time.
Primary Related Location
Important Locations
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