Transitioning into adulthood is a crucial ritual in the life of a Krobo woman. To the Krobo people in the Eastern Region, it is the first and most important stage in their lives, hence, the significance of the Dipo puberty rite to officially enter adulthood.
Dipo is a cultural practice to usher young Krobo virgins into adulthood. Among the clan, this rite also signified that the young lady, after Dipo, was ready for marriage.
These young ladies must be virgins and must experience their first menstruation to be fully ready for the rite. The rites span about a month, during which the young virgins are camped and trained.
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They are taught how to take care of themselves as adults, how to keep a home as a woman, and other important lessons considered to add value to a woman, per tradition.
On Sunday, April 23, I witnessed a beautiful rite in Somanya, a Krobo land.
Upon my arrival at around 3 pm after a heavy downpour, I joined a family at Ogome, a suburb of Somanya where the young ladies were being prepared for the final part of the rite.
They were being dressed by their mothers with white fabrics to cover their private parts and accessorised with beautiful Krobo beads on their waists and necks.
About 40 young ladies were in mixed emotions, some totally excited and others shy and sad with some tears dropping down their cheeks.
The young ladies were lined up and ready to parade the streets to the sacred room for purification. It is believed that any of the young ladies who lie about their virginity will get stuck in the sacred room until another rite is performed to free them.
The parade is about 500 meters to the sacred room. Mothers of these young ladies and their families walked alongside to the sacred room, where only the ladies were allowed in. The walk was slow, as they were heavily cheered by onlookers.
After about 10 minutes of being in the sacred room, the Dipo lady was brought out of the room and carried at the back, sprinting with them to their homes by strong men.
In the past, the man who carried one of the ladies on his back was interested deemed in her and prepares to see her guardians for her hand in marriage.
At their homes, the mothers were the happiest. They prided themselves on their daughters keeping themselves safe and successfully completing the Dipo rites.
They rejoiced and made merry. Dipo has been heavily criticised in the past few years for the exposure of sensitive parts of these young ladies. However, this year’s edition saw the ladies well covered.
I experienced a beautiful culture that I think everyone should witness. The significance of Dipo is simply keeping the Krobo lady a virgin and well-cultured to face life.
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