Rites of womanhood

Rites of womanhood

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A young Pokot girl is held by a member of her community as she tries to escape a forced marriage, unaware of the arrangements her father had made.

Like other families in the settlement in a remote Kenyan village, her parents had arranged for their daughter to be married early on in adolescence.

Many families refrain from telling their daughters their plans, worried they may run away from home.

. Baringo County, Kenya. REUTERS/Siegfried Modola

According to the centuries-old tradition, the future husband arrives at the girl's family home accompanied by a group of men.

With them they bring a dowry of livestock - in this case 20 goats, three camels and 10 cows, given over a period of several weeks.

The final 10 cows are handed over on the morning the girl is taken to her new home by her husband.

. Baringo County, Kenya. REUTERS/Siegfried Modola

Before they can get married the girls must go through a rite of passage to mark their coming of age.

They are kept out of the sight of the men in the community for a month, then for about a week before the ceremony, the girls wait in an isolated hut, dressed in colourful beaded headdresses and animal skin.

. BARINGO COUNTY, Kenya. REUTERS/Siegfried Modola

Over 100 girls took part in the rite, which begins in the evening and lasts through the following day. The girls walk in a line one after the other, and are required to stand and sing through the night.

Once the ceremony comes to a close, the girls are ready to be wed.

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Slideshow

A Pokot girl gets her braids done by her friends prior to an initiation ceremony marking her transition into womanhood.
. Baringo County, Kenya. REUTERS/Siegfried Modola

A Pokot girl gets her braids done by her friends prior to an initiation ceremony marking her transition into womanhood.

Pokot men and women hold a girl before she is taken away to be married to a member of their community.
. UNKNOWN, Kenya. REUTERS/Siegfried Modola

Pokot men and women hold a girl before she is taken away to be married to a member of their community.

A man brings a girl back to her family home after she tried to escape when she realised she is to be married off.
. Baringo County, Kenya. REUTERS/Siegfried Modola

A man brings a girl back to her family home after she tried to escape when she realised she is to be married off.

The girl cries as she is brought back to her family home.
. Baringo County, Kenya. REUTERS/Siegfried Modola

The girl cries as she is brought back to her family home.

Pokot girls donning traditional jewellery stand in a circle during an initiation ceremony of over 100 girls.
. BARINGO COUNTY, Kenya. REUTERS/Siegfried Modola

Pokot girls donning traditional jewellery stand in a circle during an initiation ceremony of over 100 girls.

Pokot girls and boys dance together during the ceremony.
. BARINGO COUNTY, Kenya. REUTERS/Siegfried Modola

Pokot girls and boys dance together during the ceremony.

Pokot girls and adults stand in a circle during the ceremony.
. BARINGO COUNTY, Kenya. REUTERS/Siegfried Modola

Pokot girls and adults stand in a circle during the ceremony.

A Pokot man holds a lamb as he blesses dozens of girls during their initiation.
. BARINGO COUNTY, Kenya. REUTERS/Siegfried Modola

A Pokot man holds a lamb as he blesses dozens of girls during their initiation.

Pokot men grab a bull for an elder of the community to bless during the ceremony.
. Baringo County, Kenya. REUTERS/Siegfried Modola

Pokot men grab a bull for an elder of the community to bless during the ceremony.

Pokot girls hit a young bull as part of their initiation.
. Baringo County, Kenya. REUTERS/Siegfried Modola

Pokot girls hit a young bull as part of their initiation.

Pokot girls taking part in the initiation punch the young bull until the animal is exhausted.
. Baringo County, Kenya. REUTERS/Siegfried Modola

Pokot girls taking part in the initiation punch the young bull until the animal is exhausted.

A young bull lies dead on the ground after having been killed
. BARINGO COUNTY, Kenya. REUTERS/Siegfried Modola

A young bull lies dead on the ground after having been killed