Dipo - puberty rites - is performed by people of Odumase Krobo, in Ghana. Usually performed in April, Dipo is performed as initiation rights to usher young virgins into puberty. It usually signifies that the any the girl is of age and ready for marriage. All girls in the community are required to undergo these rights however, with the advent of Christianity and modernization increasing number of parents are preventing these daughters from undergoing these rights.
Before been allowed to partake of these rights a girl will have to undergo tests to prove her chastity as these rights are reserved solely for virgins.
Dipo rights
Day 1
The girls are clean shaved and dressed in a cloth covering her waist to knee level. This is carried out by a special woman who is assigned as the ritual mother. The initiates are paraded for the entire community to witness. They are now officially “dipovi”.
Day 2
Early in the ‘morning, the initiates undergo a ritual bath performed by the chief priest. Through the pouring of libation he seeks the blessings of the gods for the initiates. The parents of the initiates provide a goat which is sacrificed and the blood used to wash the feet of the initiates. It is believed this will drive away any evil spirit of barrenness.
After this the initiates are asked to sit on the sacred stone to prove their virginity. Any girl found not to be a virgin or pregnant is shunned by the community and brings great shame to their family. Such a girl will find it difficult to find a marriage partner in the community.
Day 3 – 9
The girls are then housed for a week under the tutelage of rituals mothers. Here they under training on housekeeping, cooking, child birth and raising a family. These ritual mothers also give them special lessons on seduction and how to treat their husbands’ right. They learn the Klama dance which will be performed on the final day of the rites.
Day 10
The initiates are finally released and the entire community gather to celebrate their transition into womanhood. Dressed in immaculate kente cloth with accessories of beads around their waist, neck and arms; The perform the Klama dance amidst singing and drumming.
This is the climax of the Dipo rites. Any girl who goes through this ritual brings honor to her family and herself.
