Wrestlers coming to grips with one another, near Kisangani, Congo (Democratic Republic)

"Training for kabobo, the wrestling matches, assumed an important place in initiation camp life. The wrestling matches attracted interest from outside the tribe. In the matches only boys or men of the same grade wrestled together. At the time of the initiation five, or sometimes six, grades were differentiated, according to age and height. The smallest wrestlers were called tosongo (ca. 5-7years). The boys of 7-15 were termed mekali. Novices of approximately 16-18 were styled makoti. The biggest wrestlers, of 18 and over, were called meeme." [Droogers A., 1980: The Dangerous Journey, Symbolic Aspects of Boys' Initiation among the Wagenia of Kisangani, Zaire. Mouton Publishers, The Hague]. During his trip to Congo (now Democratic Republic of Congo), Elisofon visited the Boyoma Falls near Kisangani. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Westinghouse Film and traveled to Africa from October 26, 1970 to end of March 1971.