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Majiek Gai Chan, 15 years old, lies on the ground after being cut with the knife that will mark him as a man in Nuer society. This ancient custom was once common throughout Southern Sudan, but has become increasingly rare as youth choose to keep their tribal identity more private and become socially accepted in the modern world. The government has recently banned the this kind of scarification, but it persists in more traditional areas, such as this western portion of Nuer country in Unity State. The boys are cut in birth order, and were all eager to follow the tradition of their culture. The scarification into manhood used to be done when boys were older, but I was told it is now being done to younger boys as they want it done before the practice disappears. One older man in the village told me: "If you make the mark, you are a strong man. You will not be afraid again." Shortly after the cutting, one proud father sacrificed a cow to celebrate the manhood of his first son, and shared the meat with the village.

Filename
STNMTZ_20091005_15695.tif
Copyright
©2009 George Steinmetz
Image Size
5616x3744 / 60.2MB
Contained in galleries
South Sudan
Majiek Gai Chan, 15 years old, lies on the ground after being cut with the knife that will mark him as a man in Nuer society. This ancient custom was once common throughout Southern Sudan, but has become increasingly rare as youth choose to keep their tribal identity more private and become socially accepted in the modern world. The government has recently banned the this kind of scarification, but it persists in more traditional areas, such as this western portion of Nuer country in Unity State. The boys are cut in birth order, and were all eager to follow the tradition of their culture. The scarification into manhood used to be done when boys were older, but I was told it is now being done to younger boys as they want it done before the practice disappears. One older man in the village told me: "If you make the mark, you are a strong man. You will not be afraid again." Shortly after the cutting, one proud father sacrificed a cow to celebrate the manhood of his first son, and shared the meat with the village.

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