Sierra Leone’s Bondo society initiation ceremony.

In communities across Sierra Leone, the Bondo society orchestrates a powerful rite of passage for adolescent girls, binding generations through vibrant ceremonies that affirm cultural identity. From Yagala village, the initiation begins with a communal send-off - a dynamic celebration of dance, drumming, and blessing, where elders lead girls toward the forest for weeks of seclusion and ancestral instruction. This practice, timed to avoid disrupting school or harvests, represents a cornerstone of social life, marking their transition into womanhood. The return, capture in Tokeh village, is led by the Ndoli Jowei, a masked spirit also referred to as the Bondo dεbul (Bondo masquerade), who guides the initiates back into society. This symbolic re-entry celebrates the ceremony’s completion and the girls’ new status.

Shot for AFP