Passage 1 My people are the people of Elu, the capital village of Ohafia in southeast Nigeria. Ours is a warrior tradition. We keep the tradition today primarily in name, but the warrior image is an important part of our identity, passed down through the generations. We learn the tradition of the warrior through the process of many rituals, each taught to us by our elders, who ensure that our identity is maintained. I remember the first step of my manhood, when I reached the age of eight and was finally ready for the nnu nnu mbu, a ritual that proves that you are ready to enter the world of men. It is a sweltering morning, and my family has been preparing for the ceremony since dawn. My father is absorbed in the task of dressing me in a fine costume befitting the occasion, and he looks down upon me with pride as he completes his final touches and prepares me for show. My father is beaming, and I feel his pride lift me as I move into the street to start the process of visiting others in the village who will honor me for my efforts. My chest swells and I hear my heart pounding in my ears, the blood rushing, as one by one I visit the huts of my kinfolk, receiving gifts of money and yams from each as they greet me. Some of the family member’s from my mother’s line are introduced to me during this ceremony for the first time. I feel the strength that comes with knowing that I am emerging into manhood. How does the author’s father feel about his son?