Abstract

The paper discussed the impact of rites of passage to the individual and how it engenders one and makes one accepted in the societal norms. The emphasis and the central point of this work was mainly to deal with the relevance of rites of passage in the contemporary society, it touched certain rites that the society currently looks at in disdain especially circumcision of women, which is geared towards submission as a result of patriarchal dominance. The paper culminated in relating some initiation rites of passage to Christianity, how we can inculturate some acceptable values into worship, also it touched how the Bible viewed some initiation rites. The paper was summarized and concluded with some observations and a critical evaluation of some female initiations that seem not to carry some impact except inflicting pain that is female circumcision.

Key words: Circumcision, excision, clitoridectomy, infibulation, rites.