Growing Up

Following young people are they mature into adults and go through cultural rites of adulthood.

Highlighting a ritual from the Pacific Islands in which young men jump from a wooden tower up to 30 meters high. They are secured only by a vine on their ankle, so that the ceremony is reminiscent of bungee jumping.

Following a young reindeer herder in Siberia, who guards a herd of 4,000 animals. On his migration to the Arctic Circle, he defends the reindeer herd especially against the attacks of wolves.

In the Gobi Desert, the Mongolian nomads go through an initiation ritual that puts them to a tough test. Like Altagan and Dsolbo, they must find grazing grounds that can feed their herds of camels throughout the winter.

As a masculinity ritual in Central Africa, young men climb huge trees with ropes to collect honey. The honey is considered the elixir of life, and when Banda successfully climbs the tree, he returns as a real man.

A look at a masculinity ritual among the Hamar tribe in Ethiopia. A boy called Colé goes on a journey, at the end of which he will jump on the back of a bull. Only then will he be allowed to marry.