traditional african rituals and ceremonies

These ceremonies are rooted in healing rituals dating back to before the enslavement of African peoples and the conquest of Mexicans in North America. 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. It evokes sacredness and intentionality. Fearsome in appearance, double-headed Senufo Wambele masks frequent burial grounds, guarding tombs and chasing away any evil energy that might linger there. 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 individuals chosen vary from one society to another but may include men who have fathered children and women who were the firstborn in their families. Maize porridge is ooked in a calabash with no bottom. photographers, but their dedication to preserving for all time the Hundreds of millions of Africans now claim one of these faiths as their chosen religion, and 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. The importance of ritual in indigenous African tradition cannot be overstated. For the San people of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Angola, dance is considered a sacred power. These rites provide individuals with instruction about what will be expected of them during the next phase of their lives. Although there are as many indigenous religions in Africa as there are different societies, these religions share many common features and beliefs. A type of divination called oracle consultation is sometimes used to determine guilt. Death is the final passage in a long chain of transitions. A man lies with a mortar on his chest, while shea nuts are pounded in the vessel causing no harm to the man underneath. The ceremony ends with a blessing from the senior elders, who spray the new generation of elders with mouthfuls of milk and honey-beer. Africans use divination to explain and combat forms of evil and to identify its source—either spirits or other humans. 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. From ancient times, African societies have marked the transitioins of the life cycle, from birth to death, with rites of passage. However, while the God of Christians and Muslims is concerned about all humans, the supreme deity of African religions generally cares only for the people of a particular society. Although African rites of passage appear similar, there is notable difference in the style of celebration. Representing panthers, Nufori are intended to frigthen as well as entertain. VIDEO:  Introduction to the work of photographers Carol Beckwith & Angela Fisher through African Ceremonies Inc, their Charitable Foundation. The Brooklyn Museum exhibition travelled to museums throughout the USA, South America and Europe. Generally considered living aspects of the supreme deity, these spirits may hold power over humans, who are usually unaware of them. In all African societies, childhood is a time for learning responsibilities and skills that enable children to contribute to their communities. It is there that they lose their childhood identities and gain their adult selves. 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. Increasingly, however, African marriages are compromises between strict family arrangements and the independent choices of couples. In this state, they … Ritual serves as a gateway to the land of ancestors and to the realm of Spirit. In some societies, individuals may choose whom to marry, and in others, marriages are carefully arranged to bond families together. From birth to death, these rites of passage regulate and give expression to meaningful changes in people's lives. Religious beliefs and rituals play a central role in the everyday lives of most Africans. of ceremonies that range in length from a day to a week. They are calmed by their mothers, who later shave their sons' highly prized locks of hair to signify the end of warriorhood. Among the Wodaabe, it is often the women who select their husbands and lovers. During this annual event, men compete with one another to be chosen as the most alluring by a group of female judges. Finally, at the end of the festival, the power of Koku leaves the bodies of the worshippers, and they lie exhausted on the sand. 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. The spirit world is usually considered the source of “predictable” misfortune, that is, punishment for misdeeds or the result of personal actions. More than 30 percent of what is recorded in the Beckwith Fisher Collection no longer exists. Priests serve as intermediaries to appeal to the spirits to cure both physical and psychological disorders. ). In rites of passage, the person being initiated is typically separated from the everyday world both physically and symbolically. 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. All African religions contain notions of evil, which may take the form of sudden illness or death, unexpected failure, or bad dreams or visions. they also paint young girls, competing to produce the most decorative designs. Their defining body of work, the double volume African Ceremonies, a pan-African study of rituals and rites of passage from birth to death covering ninety-three ceremonies from twenty six countries, won the United Nations Award for Excellence for its “vision and understanding of the role of cultural traditions in the pursuit of world peace.”  Angela and Carol have also been twice honored with the Annisfield-Wolf Book Award in race relations for “outstanding contributions to the understanding of cultural diversity and prejudice,” the Royal Geographical Society of London’s Cherry Kearton Medal for their “contribution to the photographic recording of African ethnography and ritual,” and most recently the Lifetime Achievement Award from WINGS World Quest, honoring the accomplishments of visionary women. Feasting, dancing, animal sacrifice Other common African myths deal with the relationship between humans and animals and the differences in the natures of men and women. VIDEO: After harvest, Surma men paint each other's bodies with intricate patterns, using a paste made from chalk found at the riverbank. Believed to originate outside the individual, these forms of evil may affect the body and eventually cause it to break down and disintegrate. Another form of communication with the spirit world is the practice of divination. The creation story emphasizes the separation between humans and the divine, which is often represented by the division between the earth and the sky. From birth until death, some ritual marks every milestone in a person’s life. Through these “journeys of the spirit,” as the West African shaman and teacher Maildoma Patrice Some has called them, people are able to transcend the everyday concerns of life to connect with their own spirits and with the spirit world. All share a basic pattern: a supreme deity creates the world from nothing, sacred figures appear and use magic or divine power to form society, and then humans appear and create the earthly history of a group. Possession is seen as a mystical link between the person being possessed and the spiritual agent that takes control. 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. VIDEO:  Wodaabe males spend hours beautifying themselves in preparation for the Yaake charm dance. The "home bringing" rite is a common African ceremony. Male circumcision is a practice that is being carried out in Africa like … Often referred to as “religion,” most Native Americans did not consider their spirituality, ceremonies, and rituals as “religion,” in the way that Christians do.Rather, their beliefs and practices form an integral and seamless part of their very being. VIDEO: Maasai warriors enter the ceremonial manyatta for their four-day ritual passage to elderhood. 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. In the Zulu community in South Africa, a traditional healer locally … In almost every instance, as life changes, Africans appeal to spiritual forces for help and guidance. A major distinction from one African religion to another is that each has its own unique set of spirits. 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. From ancient times to today, Africa is rich with transitions of birth to death with hair rituals, traditions, and ceremonies. All African religions feature myths, which are stories that are used to explain the nature of society and of the universe. Their beliefs deal with the relation of humans to the divine and with communication between the human world and the spirit world. 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. During this festival, masks representing all aspects of the Dogon world enter the village to reestablish order and drive out any remaining spirits that might bring chaos to the community. Diviners are called upon to reveal the causes of illmess and suffering and to discern an individual's personal destiny. 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. However, relatively few Africans—even those who identify themselves as Muslims or Christians—have completely abandoned traditional religious beliefs and practices. Individuals must be selected for the honor and then receive proper funeral rites. Not all deceased individuals become ancestors. 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. In South Africa, many ceremonies and celebrations are also ai… The evildoer may be punished or even killed, especially if accused of witchcraft or sorcery on many occasions. These rites are among the most sacred and significant in many of Africa’s communities. 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. Rituals are as much a celebration of the role of the dead as it is mourning his passing, 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. As in the Christian and Muslim faiths, the supreme being of African religions possesses attributes that define him as the opposite of humans—immortal, all powerful, all knowing, and incapable of error. 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. 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. Although either men or women may be possessed, the majority who reach this state are women. In fact, most African languages lack a word that could be translated as “religion,” and many of the words associated with the idea have a meaning closer to “custom” or “proper behavior” than to “religion.”. 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. From the moment of birth, an African child is connected to family, community and the ancestors. Often performed on a regular basis, sacrifices are usually conducted to remove contamination caused by existing conditions. In traditional Mexican, Filipino, and Spanish culture, couples can celebrate unity through a lasso ceremony, or el lazo ceremony. 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. The healers dance around the fire, chant and hyperventilate until they induce a powerful trance-like state. Sooth Saying-Puff Adder In Mouth. 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. Traditions and ceremonies are disappearing rapidly across Africa. dazzling diversity of African ceremonies is unparalleled. Recording the Past, Supporting the Future. 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"). In recent times, prophets have drawn heavily on ideas and symbols from Islam and Christianity. Of all the tribal traditions, this one is arguably the most magical. Generally the rituals called on the spirits of ancestors or the spirits of nature for help and assistance. 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. Masquerades: Egungun Ancestor Masks, Nigeria & Benin. During these events usually an offering is made to honour, please and thank the ancestors. Men touch white-hot swords with their tongues and slash at their bodies with shards of glass - all without injury. 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. The upheaval caused by European colonization of Africa inspired many prophets who promoted political as well as religious change, including some who led their followers into battle for independence. 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. Like the myths of other cultures, African myths help to explain the world and human society, making the world more predictable and controllable. 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. By eating the animal's flesh together, the community symbolically renews the communal bond that was disrupted by the pollution of the affected individual. Frequent accusations against an individual are usually a sign of a long-standing unpopularity in the group. 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. African religiousness is not a matter of adherence to a doctrine but is concerned with supporting fecundity and sustaining the community.African religions emphasize maintaining a harmonious relationship with the divine powers, and their rituals attempt to harness cosmic powers and channel them for good. Across the world, communities mark major transitions in life through celebrations and ceremonies. 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. 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. 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. These images are the result of a long, enduring and deeply respectful relationship with tribal peoples. Throughout the initiation, the warriors and their female companions perform courtship dances, during which the men leap high into the air to prove their agility. 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. Many prophets have founded new Christian churches that focus on African concerns, including healing, well-being, material success, and long life. At the climax of the ceremony the men often fall into impassioned states during which their bodies become rigid and their mouths foam. (See also Death, Mourning, and Ancestors; Divination and Oracles; Healing and Medicine; Initiation Rites; Islam in Africa; Masks and Masquerades; Mythology; Prophetic Movements; Spirit Possession; Taboo and Sin. Traditionally this is also the time that Wodaabe women select their husbands and lovers. Many Africans regard myths as representing basic truths, though they may be clothed in fanciful narratives. 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. 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. Other diviners interpret physical signs, such as animal tracks or the arrangement of items in a basket, as spiritual messages. 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. It is an exhibit that both preserves and presents the power, complexity and celebration found within the rituals of African tribal life. For example, within the Samburu tribe of Kenya, a bride lives with her husband until her pregnancy.… The awesome spirits whirl through the village, sweeping away evil forces and conferring blessings on spectators as they pass. More often this duty falls to a host of lesser spirits or mystical beings. Revivalism Ceremonies. Africa tribes are rich in African rituals, traditions, and ceremonies in tribal Africa. Well-known examples include the bori cult of northern Nigeria and the zar cult of northeastern Africa, in which women possessed by spirits form cult groups around the particular possessing spirits. The significance of the rites is to introduce the candidates to adult life. It is, nevertheless, also a time for children to develop creativity through imaginative play. Slaughtering and cooking the animal carries away the person's sin or sickness. 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. When the time approaches for the birth, the liminal phase of the ritual begins. 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. One of their most integral tribal traditions is the trance dance (also known as the healing dance). Traditional African religion is a way of life in which ancestors are part of every major event such as wedding, births and deaths as well as less important ones such as getting a job and finishing university. South Africa is blessed with rich cultures, one of which is its traditional wedding ceremony. A Boloye band accompanies acrobatic Nufori dancers as they tumble before mourners at a funeral. Feb 5, 2020 - Explore Love Africa Stays and Tours Co's board "Rituals, Ceremonies & Spirituality", followed by 222 people on Pinterest. 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. Body painting is performed by the Surma both to beautify and to make men more formidable in combat. Most still turn to local gods for help with traditional problems or situations. Sacrifice is a way to purify the community or an individual through ritual. Many of these myths serve to explain and justify the distribution of power and authority among humans and other living things. Lobola is an ancient and controversial Southern African tradition in … 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. Three African Tribes Ceremonies Traditions and Rituals ⚞ The Maasai Manyatta Ceremony They are often associated with a sacred site, which may serve as their dwelling place or shrine. It can also be initiated by spirits through possession of humans. Many wedding ceremonies in different countries have different traditions. 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. African history is filled with the appearance of prophets who have come from outside the community to reform or reshape a society and its religion. Among them is the practice of slaughtering an ox and attaching gall bladders to the bride's head. In many African cultures, masquerades are used to dramatize and reinforce the spritiual and social values of the community. 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 pregnant wo… The spirits have no shape or form and cannot be detected unless they wish to be. 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. Traditional African marriages comprise a series of ceremonies that range in length from a day to a week. Putting a price on the bride. One of the great challenges in African cultures is to find a balance between the age-old tensions of romantic passion and family stability. After the room is cleaned thoroughly, no one is allowed into it until the mother is nearing the time for the delivery. Contact and communication between the living and the nonliving are at the heart of almost all African religions. Masquerades: Bedik Harvest Masks, Senegal. The youth are ritually introduced to the art of communal living. For Maasai babies, however, names are so important that they are bestowed by village elders soon after birth. Yet certain aspects of African faiths differ from those of most world religions. The common experiences that they undergo during the intiation period also bind the individuals together and reinforce the idea of community. Among the creatures represented are the ox, serpent, wart hog, antelope and owl. 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. Communication between humans and the spirit world can be led by human intermediaries—such as priests, diviners, or prophets—in the form of prayer, visions, prophecies, and sacrifice. “Beckwith and Fisher know very well that much of Africa has come fully into the twenty-first century. 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. Rites of passage have value for both the individual and the community. The occurrence of evil may be unexpected, may spring from a sense of guilt, or may be punishment for antisocial actions. 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. The most common regular sacrifices are rites of passage, which are rituals performed at important moments of transition in a person's life. 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. 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. The following portraits reveal the extraordinary diversity of traditional bridal dress and jewelery designs across the continent. VIDEO:  Once every three years, devotees of the Voodoo deity Koku gather for a spectacular seven-day celebration called Kokuzahn. VIDEO:  Funeral Rituals: Mali. Among the Massai, for example, a male moves from role to role - from young cattle herder to bachelor warrior to married family man to elder of the community - through a series of ceremonies extending over 25 years. Pre-Marital Introduction Ceremonies, aka “Courtship” No matter how long you’ve been courting your … The whole community comes together around a fire for several hours or even an entire night, led by healers and elders. This … 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 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. Unjust or unexplained misfortune is typically blamed on humans known as witches and sorcerers. Interesting Facts about Traditional Religions of Ancient Africa 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. 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. 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. During this time the two photographers would produce 14 universally acclaimed books. The Wodaabe also place great emphasis on physical beauty and personal charm. Their journeys have taken them over 270,000 miles, through remote corners of 40 countries, and to more than 150 African cultures. 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. See more ideas about African, Africa, African culture. But they have left the modern world to photojournalists. 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. They may explain past misfortunes or foretell likely future events. Many different ceremonies are performed to reinforce these connections, and to prepare children to become the custodians of the culture of their people. 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. 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