Young boy's initiation ritual bench, Brazil

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In many traditional societies, the transition of the young male into manhood signifies his connection to the mystical realm. The individual is honored with vibrant festivities and an array of ornate objects rich in symbolic meaning. During specific ritual stages, the initiator occupies a bench, a key component of the male heto hykà initiation process. This bench typically originates from the father of the initiate, crafted from the hardwood of a savannah species known as orixo (Curatella americana) using a machete and decorated with motifs like bats. For the Iny-karajà people, this bench embodies the tripartite structure found in human representations (head, torso, limbs) and symbolizes duality through two heads positioned at either end of the bench. Upon completion of the ritual, the bench is not retained by the young male but serves as a reward for participating relatives who contributed financially or with food. MHNT.ETH.2011.17.6