A type of divination called oracle consultation is sometimes used to determine guilt. Generally considered living aspects of the supreme deity, these spirits may hold power over humans, who are usually unaware of them. Priests serve as intermediaries to appeal to the spirits to cure both physical and psychological disorders. 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. Masks, drums, chanting, and dancing were often a part of the ritual. 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. 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 Their journeys have taken them over 270,000 miles, through remote corners of 40 countries, and to more than 150 African cultures. It is an exhibit that both preserves and presents the power, complexity and celebration found within the rituals of African tribal life. Ancestors are considered a special type of spirit in many African religions, and ancestor worship plays an important role in various rituals. Across the world, communities mark major transitions in life through celebrations and ceremonies. 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. 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. Putting a price on the bride. Rituals Traditional rituals and ceremonies played an important part in the community. Masquerades: Senufo Nufori Acrobats, Ivory Coast. More than 30 percent of what is recorded in the Beckwith Fisher Collection no longer exists. Many of these myths serve to explain and justify the distribution of power and authority among humans and other living things. Meanwhile, Africans offer prayer and sacrifices to ancestors to protect the living and punish those who harm or are disloyal to the family groups or clans of descendants. 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. Other diviners interpret physical signs, such as animal tracks or the arrangement of items in a basket, as spiritual messages. Togolese people in traditional clothes dance the religious voodoo dance. 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. dazzling diversity of African ceremonies is unparalleled. These ceremonies are rooted in healing rituals dating back to before the enslavement of African peoples and the conquest of Mexicans in North America. Masquerades: Egungun Ancestor Masks, Nigeria & Benin. Traditions and ceremonies are disappearing rapidly across Africa. The fact is that Africa is prodigiously rich in rituals of all kinds. Many wedding ceremonies in different countries have different traditions. 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. This deity is usually male and often rules with a female earth goddess or mother goddess. The mediums often wear clothing or eat foods that symbolize the “wilderness” that is the source of their special knowledge. Generally the rituals called on the spirits of ancestors or the spirits of nature for help and assistance. The significance of the rites is to introduce the candidates to adult life. The two photographers have lectured at such venues as the Explorers Club in New York, the National Geographic Society in Washington D.C. and many US cities as well as the Royal Geographic Society in London. More often this duty falls to a host of lesser spirits or mystical beings. 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. In all African societies, childhood is a time for learning responsibilities and skills that enable children to contribute to their communities. This … The youth are ritually introduced to the art of communal living. It can also be initiated by spirits through possession of humans. The spirit world is usually considered the source of “predictable” misfortune, that is, punishment for misdeeds or the result of personal actions. From birth to death, these rites of passage regulate and give expression to meaningful changes in people's lives. Slaughtering and cooking the animal carries away the person's sin or sickness. Wearing lion-mane and ostrich-feather headdresses and carrying buffalo-hide shields, they encircle the sacred ritual house. Diviners, the men and women who perform divination, are believed to speak for spiritual forces. Frequent accusations against an individual are usually a sign of a long-standing unpopularity in the group. 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. Individuals must be selected for the honor and then receive proper funeral rites. 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. African religions also share many ideas with world religions such as Judaism and Buddhism. Recording the Past, Supporting the Future. However, relatively few Africans—even those who identify themselves as Muslims or Christians—have completely abandoned traditional religious beliefs and practices. Feb 5, 2020 - Explore Love Africa Stays and Tours Co's board "Rituals, Ceremonies & Spirituality", followed by 222 people on Pinterest. When the time approaches for the birth, the liminal phase of the ritual begins. They may explain past misfortunes or foretell likely future events. It is there that they lose their childhood identities and gain their adult selves. The ceremony ends with a blessing from the senior elders, who spray the new generation of elders with mouthfuls of milk and honey-beer. 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. Increasingly, however, African marriages are compromises between strict family arrangements and the independent choices of couples. 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. 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