Becoming a Man

To achieve dual status in Central Africa, Banda must test his skills by climbing giant trees in order to gather honey, the elixir of life. In Ethiopia, Kolé must embark on a long journey that will eventually lead him to a bull jumping ceremony he must endure.

From the north to the south of the gargantuan expanse of Siberia, people have kept their roots and perpetuated their ancient culture of nomadic animal breeders. Edik, Altagan, and Dsolbo, children of the steppes and of the tundra, all lovers of dry and often hostile lands, will have to retain the teachings of their elders in their hearts if they are to become true men.

To achieve adult status in Melanesia, Junior from Kontu island in Papua has to capture a shark armed only with a lasso and a propeller. On Pentecost Island, Wabak of the Vanuatu Nation has to jump from a wooden tower, with thick vines bound around his ankles as his only safety line.

In the Kayapo community of northern Brazil, young adolescents must face a terrible challenge to reach adulthood: confront Amyu, a giant wasp that builds nests as big as men on top of the highest trees of the forest. Only if the boys succeed this initiatory ordeal will they be given the opportunity to fight against those who are attempting to destroy their forest by building a river dam.

In the remote kingdom of Zanskar located in the northern Himalayas, this is the true and moving story of a friendship shattered by destiny when two young girls named Palkit and Tenzin have to part ways and leave their village and families forever in order to become women.

In Southern Ethiopia, 11 year-old Wario belongs to the Borana, a semi-nomadic tribe renowned for salt trading in the region. It is time for him to prove to himself and his family that he is a real Borana, and can take on important responsibilities in the community. His test? A 200 kilometer initiatory journey to learn the difficult labor of salt trade.

In the wild plains of northern Mongolia, Quizilol and Solongo are in love. Solongo’s father believes Quizilol needs a little more seasoning as a man prior to marrying his daughter, so Quizilol is given a prized stud reindeer to care for to prove his worth. During a blizzard the reindeer escapes into the mountains. Only if he succeeds in recapturing the reindeer will Quizilol marry Solongo.

The wild bee of Nepal is the largest bee species on Earth, with a sting that can be potentially fatal. Only the bravest and toughest still face the challenge of gathering the wild honey from the bees. Join Moti on three spectacular ascents up sheer Himalayan cliffs with the goal of capturing the sacred, nutritious honey. Will he succeed?

The culture of Inuit people is at a crossroads between the past and the present, as their ancestor’s traditional skills and rituals are being left behind by the younger generation, whose loss of cultural identity is leading them down dark pathways. Follow Matthew and Elena who agreed to participate in the “On the Land Program,” a project dedicated to helping young Inuits get back to their roots.