Men Of This African Tribe Get Whipped In Public To Prove They're Worthy Of Marriage

There are various communities around the world with different traditions, some of which are bizarre too. Some African communities are said to follow a ritual, in which they mark the transition of a person’s life cycle — from the day they are born to the day they die. These important transitions are marked by unique celebrations that are generally referred to as rites of passage. Most of these rites of passage have a shared tradition, but the style of celebration varies according to one’s ethnic group. The Fulani tribe of West Africa are one such indigenous group, who have a bizarre tradition for men, which is followed before they get married.

These people devote themselves to the Sharo Festival. The term Sharo means whipping. It is a public ritual that honours the bravery and endurance of boys, as they grow into men. The festival takes place twice a year. It is conducted during the dry season, when guinea corn is harvested; while the second time is on the occasion of Id-el-Kabir.

The Sharo festival lasts for 7 days and is organised in an open space such as a market square. Among the other festivities in the festival, the main attraction is the bare-chest unmarried men who are brought in front of gorgeous young girls. The families of the contenders watch and pray that their sons can bear the flogging. The participant is usually flogged by other participants of his age and he must not scream or writhe in pain, while being whipped. He should be asking for more lashes and dancing with a smile during the process. According to the legends, once the candidates survive the flogging they are recognised as men and pursued by attractive women. During the ceremony, the contenders also chant mantras or go through the traditional fortification process to prepare for the day.

The participants, by the end of the day, are left with scars on their upper bodies but they also regard them as having strength. If you think that the man may get life-threatening injuries, the local reports suggest that there is a referee who ensures that the ceremony ends without any injuries, which can be deadly.