What symbolic meaning does eating dog meat hold for Evala participants?

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The symbolic significance of consuming dog meat in the Evala rite centers on the transference of perceived canine attributes to the initiates.

For participants in Togo's Evala rite, the act of eating dog meat for the first time is imbued with symbolic meaning. This practice is understood as a method for initiates to internalise the desirable qualities attributed to dogs. Specifically, the dog is regarded as an animal possessing strength, hardiness, and cunning. By consuming its meat, the initiate is believed to acquire these very traits, preparing them for the challenges of manhood and the intensity of the wrestling ritual.
Ingestion of dog meat is a crucial component of the Evala initiation.

The Evala tradition, observed by ethnic Kabye men aged 18 to 20 in Togo's Kara region, includes a rite where participants must dance with a dog until it succumbs to exhaustion. Following this demanding segment of the ceremony, the initiates partake in consuming the dog's meat, an experience described as their first encounter with this particular food source.
The dog's attributes are seen as transferable to the initiate.

According to local leaders, such as Tchitchao canton chief Achille Samah Bidiwana, the dog is culturally perceived as a creature that is both strong and hardy, as well as cunning. The consumption of its meat is therefore intended to transfer these characteristics to the young men undergoing the initiation, equipping them with the fortitude and shrewdness deemed necessary for their transition into adulthood.
These acquired qualities are expected to manifest in the wrestling arena.

The Evala rite culminates in wrestling matches, where the physical and mental attributes transferred through the dog meat consumption are put to the test. The objective in the arena is to overcome an opponent, and the strength, hardiness, and cunning absorbed from the dog are considered instrumental in achieving victory in these contests.

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What symbolic meaning does eating dog meat hold for Evala participants?

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