What are Rituals?

Throughout the narrative, various forms of rituals represent different types of beginnings (i.e. of the planting season, of important conversations, of marriages); endings (i.e. of growing season, of life itself); and aspects of everyday life. While rituals are of primary importance to the people of Umuaro, there are also rituals of behavior within the community of British government officials; in that context, rituals are less formalized, but are more intended to define and reinforce status.