The Makishi Masquerade

　　The end of the mukanda is celebrated with a graduation ceremony called chilende. The whole village attends the Makishi dance and the audience is entertained with pantomime-like artistry until the graduates re-emerge from the camp and are reintegrated as adult men into their communities and families. This ritual has an educational function of transmitting practical survival-skills as well as knowledge about nature, sexuality, religious beliefs and the social values of the community.

　　In former times, the mukanda was held for several months and represented the raison d'être of the Makishi masquerade. Today, it is often reduced to one month in order to adapt to the school calendar. Together with the increasing demand for makishi dancers at social gatherings, party rallies and for tourists, this leads to the loss of the dance's original spiritual and sacred dimension. Furthermore, this tradition faces strong opposition from Christian churches.