Africa: Sharks appear in festivals and coming-of-age rituals
Spectacular drama and serious ritual come together in African celebrations. The Ijo people of Nigeria stage masquerades to honor sharklike water spirits that bring them good fortune. The Bidjogo people of Guinea-Bissau hold coming-of-age ceremonies for young men, which include solemn shark rituals.
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 Make a Shark Headdress
People in West Africa hold dances and celebrations to honor sharklike spirits. You can celebrate sharks too by creating your own headdress.
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 Listen to the Sounds of Africa
Clap, snap or knee tap to the beat of the drums. Count on your fingers the number of animal sounds you hear.
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More Shark Activities
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When pulled from the water, puffadder shysharks cover their eyes with their tails, hence the second part of their name.
Brown stripes and catlike eyes give the pajama catshark its name.
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Meet more Sharks and Rays
When local sharks were being overfished, a group of West African fishermen created a no-shark-fishing zone to help shark populations recover. And instead of supporting the trade in shark fins, they now catch other fish that aren't in trouble.
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Save sharks when you shop
You can help prevent overfishing of sharks by avoiding all shark products—from soup to cartilage pills.
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Learn more about what you can do to save sharks.
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