Sponsorship brought great prestige for the individual and his "" (lineage). Sponsors could generally count on the help of their kin, as they would gain some residual status just for helping. If the "Sso" finished successfully, the sponsor was supposed to have atoned for some past misdeed, often incest or revealing "Sso" secrets, that had been plaguing him and his lineage. The young men who participated in the "Sso", known as ', were between 15 and 25 years old. They came from miles away to participate, because by completing the rite, they would go from ' ("uninitiated") to ' ("warrior"). This granted the privileges of adult status: participation in tribal councils, the ability to eat a wider variety of meats, and perhaps most importantly, entry to the land of the ancestors after death. Three ' had special duties. The ' (elephant) was selected by the sponsor to lead the rest of the candidates. He was usually a member of the sponsor's family. A Beti proverb states, "Where the elephant has gone, there is a path for others." The ' (line closer) was tasked with bringing up the rear of ' hunting parties. The ' and ' were both expected to keep order among the candidates. The ' (weakling) served as the ritual target of the others' jokes. The "" were divided into several non-competing groups of as many as 60 individuals. Each candidate had a personal "esia Sso" ("Sso" father), a man who had himself completed the rite. The "esia Sso" participated in all "Sso"-related feasts and events and helped to organise the tasks and trials the candidates would face. Participants and "Sso" fathers could grow very close; some ' helped their ' arrange bride prices for later marriage, and a ' was forbidden to marry the daughter of his ', even if the two individuals were from different lineages. Two other individuals performed important tasks. The ' was an orator who gave a speech at the end of the rite detailing the sponsor's sins that had required the rite to the held. His regalia included an antelope skin, iron bracelets, a red hat, and a long spear. The ' was renowned for his abilities as a public speaker. His prestige was such that others bowed to him, a courtesy not afforded to even village headmen. The "" (holder of the "Sso" sack) was responsible for the actual running of the "Sso" rite.