How do Africans think of nudist lifestyles

From the Xhosa ulwaluko to the Maasai enkiama, African coming-of-age traditions are richly varied. This guide surveys the most significant rites of passage.

To understand where African masks come from, you have to let go of the idea that there is a single origin story. Mask making developed independently across thousands of distinct communities over thousands of years, shaped by local belief systems, available materials, and specific social needs. What follows is not a complete history of any…