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The Continent @thecontinent.org

In Thibion, a village in Senegal’s Casamance region, crowds cheer as men perform feats of bravery like cutting your body without drawing blood. This is Futampaf – a traditional ceremony, that gathers the Jola people of Senegal, Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau to initiate boys into manhood.

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aug 21, 2025, 7:45 am • 10 0

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The Continent @thecontinent.org

The rites, practised since the 12th century, prepare initiates to enter the sacred forest on a spiritual journey to receive ancestral wisdom, deepen their respect for women and elders, and take on new responsibilities in the community. Photos: Muhamadou Bittaye/AFP

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aug 21, 2025, 7:45 am • 7 1 • view