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In Maré, social and territorial organisation of local chiefdoms is based on military alliances. After a long period of terrible wars, the ancient chiefdoms were overthrown at the beginning of the 19th century but war continued throughout the period of colonial evangelisation until the early 20th century. The social conditions generated by perpetual warmongering led to the emergence of a tacit debt which places the young men in a position of subservience to older men of the family. As long as the debt is not challenged, peace will be upheld. To ensure that the debt is respected by the next generation, the older men take advantage of their “right to speak” and have recourse to violent magic. War, however, offers the youths an opportunity not only to demonstrate their valour in the face of death but also to attain the status of “great warrior”. Freed from the fear which reduces them to silence, young men cancel the debt which cripples their lives and at last obtain the right to speak.