Encyclopedia of Women & Islamic Cultures

Get access

Gender Socialization: Sub-Saharan Africa: Swahili Societies
(1,417 words)

Unyago is an initiation ritual performed as part of the socialization process in Swahili societies. These societies along the coast of East Africa and on the nearby islands have absorbed many different cultural traits through close ties within Africa and across the Indian Ocean. Girls' initiation rituals were introduced in Swahili societies by female slaves from Tanganyika, Zaire, Mozambique, Malawi, and Zambia who continued to perform their rituals after …

Cite this page
Larsen, Kjersti, “Gender Socialization: Sub-Saharan Africa: Swahili Societies”, in: Encyclopedia of Women & Islamic Cultures, General Editor Suad Joseph. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1872-5309_ewic_EWICCOM_0083e>
First published online: 2009



▲   Back to top   ▲