Aboriginal Ceremonies

Page Three

Aboriginal Initiation Ceremonies

In most traditional Aboriginal communities boys are initiated into manhood in a cycle of ceremonies in which they are taught their traditional songs and shown the dances that are associated with it. The rituals take place over a number of days and sometimes weeks. The boys are decorated, have to participate in various rituals and are finally circumcised.

Young boys from Numbulwar with small spears; they will try to hit the men, who will then have to dance for them at their "Mandiwala" circumcision ceremony.

Young initiates are carried to their elders on the ceremonial ground and will stay with them during the all-night "Mandiwala" dance before their circumcision.

.Initiate during a south Arnhem Land circumcision ceremony; the boy is decorated with white clay and strings of feathers.

"Daru" initiates in Borroloola. They carry small bark boomerangs with which they try to hit men who should later dance for them in their "Mandiwala" ceremony.

Young initiates during a "Djapi" circumcision ceremony in Arnhem Land, in which the boys are painted with their clan totemic designs. This was in Numbulwar.