A Boloye band accompanies acrobatic Nufori dancers as they tumble before mourners at a funeral. VIDEO: Maasai warriors enter the ceremonial manyatta for their four-day ritual passage to elderhood. Such sacrifices often include killing and feasting on an animal that is blessed and identified with the person for whom the sacrifice is being performed. to the accompaniment of Voodoo drum rhythms, worshippers spin into possessed states and perform extraordinary feats after summoning the powr of their god through a series of offerings made in the Koku fetish shrine. ). These multi-talented photographers have also been involved in the making of four films about traditional Africa including Way of the Wodaabe (1986) The Painter and the Fighter, and Millennium: Tribal Wisdom and the Modern World. Their beliefs deal with the relation of humans to the divine and with communication between the human world and the spirit world. However, the deeper meaning of the myths may be available only to individuals who have the special training or insight needed to communicate with the world of the spirits. As they enter the adult world during their teenage years, African youngsters undergo a variety of initation rituals. Contact and communication between the living and the nonliving are at the heart of almost all African religions. of ceremonies that range in length from a day to a week. There are four important rites of passages in Africa communities, namely; Birth; Puberty; Marriage; Death; Today we will focus on death, funeral and burial in African culture and traditions. Many diviners act as mediums, communicating with spirits through possession or trance. It can also be initiated by spirits through possession of humans. African Ceremonies Inc, a 501C3 charitable foundation, is dedicated to the preservation of African tribal traditions through the photographic documentation of ceremonies and customs, thereby ensuring that the strength and essence of African culture is preserved for the history of mankind and for the education of future generations. When a person with no special religious status is possessed, it is seen as a sign that he or she has been chosen by the spirits and linked to their world. Creation myths are an essential part of African religions. The creation story emphasizes the separation between humans and the divine, which is often represented by the division between the earth and the sky. Among the creatures represented are the ox, serpent, wart hog, antelope and owl. Male circumcision is a practice that is being carried out in Africa like … See more ideas about African, Africa, African culture. Priests serve as intermediaries to appeal to the spirits to cure both physical and psychological disorders. In Africa, as throughout the world, marriage is one of the most significant events in a woman's life. Most still turn to local gods for help with traditional problems or situations. Since the beginning of recorded time, kings have been closely associated with gods - often not merely as intermediaries between mankind and the gods, but as sacred beings themselves who could bestow divine blessings on their subjects. This deity is usually male and often rules with a female earth goddess or mother goddess. As with sacrifice, one effect of possession is the purification of the victim and a change of status, such as being removed from certain family or social obligations. Traditionally this is also the time that Wodaabe women select their husbands and lovers. African rites of passage usually occur at birth, marriage, and death; on initiation into SECRET SOCIETIES (often associated with reaching a certain age); and on achieving an important position such as that of king or priest. Few African societies make a rigid distinction between religious behavior and other forms of social conduct. Many of these myths serve to explain and justify the distribution of power and authority among humans and other living things. They also play a role in drawing attention both to the individual's emergence from childhood and the assumption of responsibilities associated with adult life. According to Macmillan Encyclopedia of Death and Dying, death rituals in Africa are to ensure that the deceased is properly put to rest so his spirit is at peace and he can take his place among the protective ancestors. Male Circumcision with Knife. Because infant mortality remains high, the people of many African cultures are extremenly superstitious during the first few year of a child's life, and carry out rituals to protect it from hazards. Bassari Initiate Drinking from a Ritual Calabash, Bassari Initiates Reentering the Village from the Sacred Forest, Shai Initiates Performing the Klama Dance, Maasai Warrior with Ostrich-Feather Headdress, Maasai Warriors Arriving at Eunoto Ceremony, Maasai Initiates Receiving Blessings of Elders, Dinka Girls Socializing at the Cattle Camp, Wodaabe Male Charm Dancers with Female Judge, Wodaabe Men Performing Geerewol Beauty Dance, Possessed Ashanti Priest Receiving Assistance, Oro Efe Masks Emerging from the Sacred Forest, Oblameji Ancestor Mask Entering Egungun Festival, Arrival of King Opoku Ware II at His Silver Jubilee. Interesting Facts about Traditional Religions of Ancient Africa Jamaican Revivalism is a mix of European and African religious traditions, turned into something uniquely Jamaican. Rites of passage have value for both the individual and the community. In Africa funerals are considered a means of formally separating the dead from the living and of introducing an individual into the world of the spirit. After the room is cleaned thoroughly, no one is allowed into it until the mother is nearing the time for the delivery. The spirit world is usually considered the source of “predictable” misfortune, that is, punishment for misdeeds or the result of personal actions. dazzling diversity of African ceremonies is unparalleled. Dogon Burial and Masked Dama Ceremony: Following death, the body of a Dogon villager is hoisted hundreds of feet up in the Bandiagara escarpment and laid to rest in the ancient caves of the Tellem ancestors. Representing panthers, Nufori are intended to frigthen as well as entertain. Generally the rituals called on the spirits of ancestors or the spirits of nature for help and assistance. For more information on current projects and donations, please contact African Ceremonies Inc. African Ceremonies: Passages is a selection of iconic images from the Beckwith & Fisher Archives, a traveling exhibition curated by the Brooklyn Museum of Art in 2000. They are often associated with a sacred site, which may serve as their dwelling place or shrine. In most traditional African societies, the worlds of the living and the dead are perceived as equally real. Other common African myths deal with the relationship between humans and animals and the differences in the natures of men and women. It is to rituals, dances, masquerades, storytelling and folk celebrations with all their theatrical elements, then, that one must look for such an African definition. VIDEO:  Once every three years, devotees of the Voodoo deity Koku gather for a spectacular seven-day celebration called Kokuzahn. Remedies for the problem are based on this rivalry and may include forcing the accused person to withdraw the evil or misfortune. All of the males of the same age in a community participate as a group in the communal ceremonies that mark each transition. At the climax of the ceremony the men often fall into impassioned states during which their bodies become rigid and their mouths foam. The importance of ritual in indigenous African tradition cannot be overstated. Another form of communication with the spirit world is the practice of divination. Although either men or women may be possessed, the majority who reach this state are women. In this state, they … Masquerades: Egungun Ancestor Masks, Nigeria & Benin. In traditional Mexican, Filipino, and Spanish culture, couples can celebrate unity through a lasso ceremony, or el lazo ceremony. In almost every instance, as life changes, Africans appeal to spiritual forces for help and guidance. In all intiation ceremonies, a select group of elders takes charge of the sequence of ritual events. Kola Nuts. All African religions feature myths, which are stories that are used to explain the nature of society and of the universe. Traditions and ceremonies are disappearing rapidly across Africa. Africa tribes are rich in African rituals, traditions, and ceremonies in tribal Africa. Masquerades: Senufo Nufori Acrobats, Ivory Coast. The Himba of Namibia never leave a baby on its own or even put it down, lest the child be stolen away by some malevolent spirit. In recent times, prophets have drawn heavily on ideas and symbols from Islam and Christianity. This, combined with Beckwith and Fisher’s extraordinary photographic skills, creates an intimate portrayal of ceremonies long held secret that might have never been recorded. Masks, drums, chanting, and dancing were often a part of the ritual. The most common regular sacrifices are rites of passage, which are rituals performed at important moments of transition in a person's life. Nor are all of them communal: many are personal, such as the passage from health to illmess. Meanwhile the groom undergoes the traditional African wedding rituals known as Kupeka Begi… in this ritual the female relatives of the groom take gifts to his bride on his behalf. Once every 12 years, the Dogon hold a communal funeral ceremony known as the Dama to honor the passing of deceased villagers into the afterworld. The possessed person often does not recall the experience. VIDEO:  Masquerades: Yoruba Gelede Masks, Benin. The whole community comes together around a fire for several hours or even an entire night, led by healers and elders. The youth are ritually introduced to the art of communal living. Frequent accusations against an individual are usually a sign of a long-standing unpopularity in the group. Recording the Past, Supporting the Future. These ceremonies are rooted in healing rituals dating back to before the enslavement of African peoples and the conquest of Mexicans in North America. VIDEO:  Introduction to the work of photographers Carol Beckwith & Angela Fisher through African Ceremonies Inc, their Charitable Foundation. Most African peoples have rites and ceremonies to mark this great change, but a few do not observe initiation and puberty rites. Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher pay homage to the rituals that mark every important occasion in tribal life — birth, initiation, courtship, marriage, royal coronations, seasonal rituals, healing exorcisms, and death. A major distinction from one African religion to another is that each has its own unique set of spirits. Often performed on a regular basis, sacrifices are usually conducted to remove contamination caused by existing conditions. Among them is the practice of slaughtering an ox and attaching gall bladders to the bride's head. By eating the animal's flesh together, the community symbolically renews the communal bond that was disrupted by the pollution of the affected individual. Men touch white-hot swords with their tongues and slash at their bodies with shards of glass - all without injury. Children are encouraged to take an active part in communal ceremonies and thereby begin their first steps on a journey that encompasses all the realms of human experience. Sacrifice is a way to purify the community or an individual through ritual. Belief in witchcraft and sorcery occurs among urban Africans as well as among rural folk. The following portraits reveal the extraordinary diversity of traditional bridal dress and jewelery designs across the continent. they also paint young girls, competing to produce the most decorative designs. Possession is seen as a mystical link between the person being possessed and the spiritual agent that takes control. Yet certain aspects of African faiths differ from those of most world religions. The bride’s female relatives then perform a ritual known as Kupeka Msuaki where they in turn take a gift of toiletries to the groom on the bride’s behalf. Body painting is performed by the Surma both to beautify and to make men more formidable in combat. Throughout the ancient royal kingdoms of Africa, ceremonies are frequently held to reassure people of the well-being of the monarch and, thereby, the state. Most African religions acknowledge the existence of a supreme deity who created the world and then, in most cases, retired from dealing with earthly affairs. Many wedding ceremonies in different countries have different traditions. Their numerous photographic exhibitions have received acclaim in museums and galleries throughout the world, including the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, National Geographic Museum, Smithsonian Museum of African Art, Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, Borges Cultural Center of Buenos Aires, National Museums of Kenya, and venues in Australia, Europe, and Japan. Of all the tribal traditions, this one is arguably the most magical. Revivalism Ceremonies. Funeral Ritulals: Senufo Wambele Masks at Grave Site, Ivory Coast. It arose through a process of syncretism between the traditional Yoruba religion of West Africa and the Roman Catholic form of Christianity.Adherents are known as creyente ("believers"). The mediums often wear clothing or eat foods that symbolize the “wilderness” that is the source of their special knowledge. Yoruba Egungun masks embody the spirirts of the ancestors, who return to their respective communities for several days each year to advise villagers and punish wrongdoers. In return, the living show hospitality and kindness to the dead by giving them food and drink and keeping alive the traditions that they have passed on. During harvest and planting seasons, Bwa animal masks enter the village to purify the community and protect it from harm. This … It is an exhibit that both preserves and presents the power, complexity and celebration found within the rituals of African tribal life. Revivalism is based on Christianity, but with an African twist – the attitudes towards nature and spirituality are influenced by African religions, as is the style of worship. Diviners, the men and women who perform divination, are believed to speak for spiritual forces. Diviners are called upon to reveal the causes of illmess and suffering and to discern an individual's personal destiny. Wearing lion-mane and ostrich-feather headdresses and carrying buffalo-hide shields, they encircle the sacred ritual house. The evildoer may be punished or even killed, especially if accused of witchcraft or sorcery on many occasions. Unjust or unexplained misfortune is typically blamed on humans known as witches and sorcerers. Exhibtion Curator — William Siegman,  Curator, Brooklyn Museum of Art, 2000Photographers — Carol Beckwith & Angela Fisher,  African CeremoniesExhibtion Coordinator — www.photokunst.com, “Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher are not only truly remarkable Togolese people in traditional clothes dance the religious voodoo dance. A type of divination called oracle consultation is sometimes used to determine guilt. It is fortunate indeed for us that they have done so, for many of these rites are dying out or becoming altered as Africa assimiliates the habits and products of other parts of the world.”, ~ Robert Morton, editor, exhibition catalog “Passages”. In some African religions, the supreme deity continues to have dealings with humans after creating the world. photographers, but their dedication to preserving for all time the In all African societies, WITCHCRAFT AND SORCERY usually express jealousy and hatred between rivals, and it is assumed that the victim and evildoer know one another. During these events usually an offering is made to honour, please and thank the ancestors. The healers dance around the fire, chant and hyperventilate until they induce a powerful trance-like state. Santería, also known as Regla de Ocha, Regla Lucumí, or Lucumí, is an African diasporic religion that developed in Cuba between the 16th and 19th centuries. Increasingly, however, African marriages are compromises between strict family arrangements and the independent choices of couples. Finally, at the end of the festival, the power of Koku leaves the bodies of the worshippers, and they lie exhausted on the sand. The Wodaabe of Niger do not name a child before its 12th birthday so that he or she cannot be identified by the spirit of death. Among the Surma, however, men are said to be drawn to a woman who is a hard worker and has a cheerful nature, whereas women are attracted by masculine strength. Although African rites of passage appear similar, there is notable difference in the style of celebration. A king's role in maintaining social order is considered so important that it is often believed that his realm temporarily falls into a state of anarchy when he dies. Brought out of the sacred forest to disseminate their wisdom, leafy Dokota masks dance with village women, who are the chief cultivators in Bedik society. At these ceremonies, African and Aztec dancers smudge each other with traditional copal and sage, herbs to heal each other in a sign of respect. It may also involve performing actions such as wild dancing or working oneself up into an ecstatic state to show closeness to the source of divine and spiritual power. Three African Tribes Ceremonies Traditions and Rituals ⚞ The Maasai Manyatta Ceremony Their aim has been to document as fully and artistically as possible the traditional rituals that persist more or less unchanged, even in the modern world. Masquerades: Bwa and Bobo Bush Masks, Burkina Faso. They may explain past misfortunes or foretell likely future events. In consulting an oracle—usually a material object or a place thought to contain spirits—the diviner asks it to respond to a series of yes-or-no questions to reveal a person's guilt or innocence. South Africa is blessed with rich cultures, one of which is its traditional wedding ceremony. Fearsome in appearance, double-headed Senufo Wambele masks frequent burial grounds, guarding tombs and chasing away any evil energy that might linger there. One of the great challenges in African cultures is to find a balance between the age-old tensions of romantic passion and family stability. Hundreds of millions of Africans now claim one of these faiths as their chosen religion, and Not all deceased individuals become ancestors. VIDEO:  Wodaabe males spend hours beautifying themselves in preparation for the Yaake charm dance. More often this duty falls to a host of lesser spirits or mystical beings. Others have merged ideas from indigenous and foreign faiths into religious groups that are unique to Africa. Although there are as many indigenous religions in Africa as there are different societies, these religions share many common features and beliefs. The common experiences that they undergo during the intiation period also bind the individuals together and reinforce the idea of community. A typical birth ritual among the Ndebele-speaking people of Zimbabwe begins with the woman leaving her husband during her ninth month of pregnancy to go to her own parents' home. To begin their training, intiates often enter a special place, a sacred forest or a ritually built house. At these ceremonies, African and Aztec dancers smudge each other with traditional copal and sage, herbs to heal each other in a sign of respect. The Foundation is also dedicated to carrying out community and individual projects, serving the needs of the groups with whom Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher have lived. Many Africans regard myths as representing basic truths, though they may be clothed in fanciful narratives. Courtship and marriage traditions vary greatly. A man lies with a mortar on his chest, while shea nuts are pounded in the vessel causing no harm to the man underneath. Individuals with professional skill or knowledge may be able to convince a spirit to possess them through dancing, hyperventilation (becoming dizzy by rapid breathing), or the use of drugs. These ceremonies are rooted in healing rituals dating back to before the enslavement of African peoples and the conquest of Mexicans in North America. For example, within the Samburu tribe of Kenya, a bride lives with her husband until her pregnancy.… Religious beliefs and rituals play a central role in the everyday lives of most Africans. It is, nevertheless, also a time for children to develop creativity through imaginative play. Individuals must be selected for the honor and then receive proper funeral rites. This is considered particularly important during the annual Donga stick-fight tournament, when males battle with six-foot wooden poles to prove masculinity and win the hands of the most desirable women. This constitutes the separation phase, which involves women preparing the room by polishing the floor with cow dung. A boy stands with a chicken balanced on his head, while fetish priests kill the bird by pointing their knives at it from a distance of several feet. As divine beings, rulers in many African cultures traditionally symbolize the welfare of the state and are responsible for the security and prosperity of their people. South African wedding traditions and customs are filled with a lot of rights and rituals that have to be done to appease the ancestors to guide and protect the newlyweds on their quests towards the marital journey. For Maasai babies, however, names are so important that they are bestowed by village elders soon after birth. These rites provide individuals with instruction about what will be expected of them during the next phase of their lives. Death is the final passage in a long chain of transitions. This separation occurs because of the wickedness of humans, which causes them to break up into many cultures and languages and lose their divine nature. A strong collective future in an uncertain world depends on families working together, and the common goal of survival is often put ahead of personal pleasure. African religions also share many ideas with world religions such as Judaism and Buddhism. Ritual and religious specialists. Many African societies also make additional transitions as the individual progresses through a series of stages in life, with roles and responsibilities clearly defined for each age level. Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher have expressed their intention to place the Beckwith Fisher Archive – the world’s most extensive photographic archive of traditional African cultures and ceremonies - with an institution yet to be selected. The awesome spirits whirl through the village, sweeping away evil forces and conferring blessings on spectators as they pass. Traditions Regarding Pregnancy As the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are mainly of the Christian religion there are fewer ceremonies and traditions relating to childbirth and childhood, however these are prevalent in may African tribes. In such cases, the evil is removed through sacrifice. The fact is that Africa is prodigiously rich in rituals of all kinds. In order to display their charm, the dancers form long lines, rise up on their toes, roll their eyes and flash their teeth. From the moment of birth, an African child is connected to family, community and the ancestors. Humans are seen as a combination of physical and spiritual elements, which split into separate parts at the time of death, with the body returning to the earth and the spirit or soul passing on to assume its role in the afterlife. The ceremony ends with a blessing from the senior elders, who spray the new generation of elders with mouthfuls of milk and honey-beer. In addition to regular sacrifices, special purification sacrifices can be performed at any time to heal individuals struck down by sickness, physical or psychological harm, or moral impurity. The institution to be chosen must be a venue for ongoing study and research, committed to making the Archive accessible to students, scholars, and the general public, thereby insuring that the legacy of Africa’s ancient cultures is preserved and understood by future generations worldwide. Pre-Marital Introduction Ceremonies, aka “Courtship” No matter how long you’ve been courting your … However, relatively few Africans—even those who identify themselves as Muslims or Christians—have completely abandoned traditional religious beliefs and practices. In South Africa, many ceremonies and celebrations are also ai… One of their most integral tribal traditions is the trance dance (also known as the healing dance). Many prophets have founded new Christian churches that focus on African concerns, including healing, well-being, material success, and long life. ", — Don Johanson, Director, Institute of Human Origins, Arizona State University. Their journeys have taken them over 270,000 miles, through remote corners of 40 countries, and to more than 150 African cultures. These images are the result of a long, enduring and deeply respectful relationship with tribal peoples. This period of seclusion, which may be long or short, is marked by symbolic reversal of the normal order—such as wearing forbidden clothes or eating forbidden foods. All African religions contain notions of evil, which may take the form of sudden illness or death, unexpected failure, or bad dreams or visions. Not all of the transitions in life are dramatic: some are seasonal, such are the ritual blessing of the earth before harvesting crops or going hunting. From birth until death, some ritual marks every milestone in a person’s life. Like the myths of other cultures, African myths help to explain the world and human society, making the world more predictable and controllable. After a period of instruction, the initates undergo an encounter or ordeal that marks the climax of their intiation and the beginning of their new lives. Among the Wodaabe, it is often the women who select their husbands and lovers. Putting a price on the bride. Believed to originate outside the individual, these forms of evil may affect the body and eventually cause it to break down and disintegrate. Myths tell about the creation of the world, ancestral origins, historical events, and heroes. They exist in a state of perpetual balance and rebalance; actions performed by the inhabitants of one world have a corresponding effect on the other, some beneficial and others detrimental. These rites are among the most sacred and significant in many of Africa’s communities. Maize porridge is ooked in a calabash with no bottom. From ancient times to today, Africa is rich with transitions of birth to death with hair rituals, traditions, and ceremonies. Feasting, dancing, animal sacrifice Ceremonies that mark the stages of life provide clear definitions of society's expectations of the individual, and they give him or her a sense of identity and belonging. When the time approaches for the birth, the liminal phase of the ritual begins. Rituals are as much a celebration of the role of the dead as it is mourning his passing, The significance of the rites is to introduce the candidates to adult life. Thirty years ago American-born Carol Beckwith and Australian Angela Fisher met in Kenya and began a relationship with the African continent that would profoundly alter and shape their lives. Yoruba Oro Efe masks emerge from the sacred forest, invoking blessings for the annual Gelede festival, which ensures the continued protection of the mother God, Iya Nla. Ritual serves as a gateway to the land of ancestors and to the realm of Spirit. The wedding ceremonies of Swazi and Zulu traditionalists involve elaborate rituals aimed at ensuring the future cooperation of the ancestors of the bride and groom. Lobola is an ancient and controversial Southern African tradition in … Feb 5, 2020 - Explore Love Africa Stays and Tours Co's board "Rituals, Ceremonies & Spirituality", followed by 222 people on Pinterest. The pregnant wo… From birth to death, these rites of passage regulate and give expression to meaningful changes in people's lives. In some societies, individuals may choose whom to marry, and in others, marriages are carefully arranged to bond families together. What matters is that myths help explain the past and present, resolve moral and social issues, and provide a cosmology—an account of the structure and purpose of the universe. Slaughtering and cooking the animal carries away the person's sin or sickness. Many different ceremonies are performed to reinforce these connections, and to prepare children to become the custodians of the culture of their people. That role obligates the dead to protect and guard their living descendants from harm and to oversee the conduct of their family and lineage members. They are calmed by their mothers, who later shave their sons' highly prized locks of hair to signify the end of warriorhood. The spirits have no shape or form and cannot be detected unless they wish to be. Traditional African marriages comprise a series of ceremonies that range in length from a day to a week. In many African cultures, masquerades are used to dramatize and reinforce the spritiual and social values of the community. 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