ABSTRACT
Socialization for boys differs and is in many ways more unbounded. Young Southern Kuba boys are also intensely interested in masks and their fabrication. These interests translate into a variety of creative activities. Boys also may fabricate entire masquerade figures that they wear during play activity in the community. Principally, there are two contexts for masked performances in the region: during initiation and funeral rituals. Initiation rites for young men are called buadi in Northern Kete villages and nkaan in Southern Bushoong villages. Both forms erect an initiation wall during the rite and fabricate identical types of masks and costume regalia. There are other occasions during buadi when small boys observe initiation masks close at hand. The relationship of masks and secrecy is directly related to the masquerade hierarchy in the Kuba region. The degree of secrecy surrounding the preparations for Inuba, as compared to that surrounding Bishuadi, is also articulated publicly when Inuba and Bishuadi perform.
