Punish

Quote

None of the boy masqueraders described so far can touch or be touched by females, for they wear a leaf (epsiskike) from a particular tree in their headpieces which is taboo to females, and like certain other types of leaves at Afikpo is believed to have potent magical properties. If touch occurs, the female must sacrifice at the boys’ secret society shrine.

• Source: Ottenberg, Simon. Boyhood rituals in an African society: an interpretation. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1989.
• Culture: Igbo
• Location: Africa