The famous traditional Dipo rites interestingly now allow females who are not virgins to participate in their annual puberty rituals
The traditional mothers have really become much concerned about the lack of virgin girls in the Dodowa community.
The Dipo rites ceremony usually ushers only virgin girls between 10 to 15 years old into puberty or womanhood.
Due to the increase of sexually active adolescent girls, the mothers have allowed “non-virgins” to participate in the rites.
However, currently, girls who have had abortions, given birth or carried pregnancies are still not allowed to partake. The mothers are concerned about the decline of interest in the Dipo Rites and that the younger generation is not interested in learning the processes. They are afraid that when they pass away, no one will be able to perform the rites for the girls in the community.
The leader of the mothers, Awunye Ashiakie, who has been involved in the Dipo Rites for six decades and counting, believes that the low patronage is due to modernity and education.
The media and the influence of some pastors have also played a role in the decline of interest. Furthermore, the mothers believe that the decline in virginity on the part of these young girls will cause Dipo rites to fade out if they continue to stick to only virgins.
When asked if the Dipo rites had outgrown its usefulness, the mothers were resolute in preserving it as it means “blessings” for the girl, and they believe that the misconception about the ceremony is what’s preventing others from bringing their daughters nowadays.
The Dipo Rites attract many tourists, but it is one of the criticized traditional practices in the country.
Currently, to enable a girl to go through the rites, parents are supposed to pay approximately GH¢500.00 to these traditional mothers.
The girls are then camped in the Dipo house for a week and are given a ritual bath, taught some cooking skills, housekeeping roles and personal grooming.
They are also taught the Dipo dance called ‘’klama’’, which the girls perform all through the rites.
Girls as young as two years old are allowed to go through the rites, but there are girls whose fathers did not give consent, so such girls refuse to shave their hair. Girls who refuse to shave their hair as the rites demanded paid a penalty of GH¢5 to the mothers.
