Population Association of America 2002 Annual Meeting Atlanta, Georgia, May 9-11, 2002 Session 144: Population and Development in Sub-Saharan Africa Transition to adulthood in rural Africa: are male and female experiences converging? The case of the Bwa of Mali Véronique Hertrich and Marie Lesclingand INED, Paris 1 1 Institut national d'études démographiques (INED), 133 boulevard Davout, 75980 Paris cedex 20 (France). Tél. : 33 (0)1 56 06 21 32. Fax. : 33 (0)1 56 06 21 94. Mail : hertrich@ined.fr , lescling@ined.fr