The importance of ritual in indigenous African tradition cannot be overstated. All African religions contain notions of evil, which may take the form of sudden illness or death, unexpected failure, or bad dreams or visions. 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. 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. 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. Here are some common African initiation rituals. It can also be initiated by spirits through possession of humans. Initiation rites have many symbolic meanings in my area Ika. 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. Often performed on a regular basis, sacrifices are usually conducted to remove contamination caused by existing conditions. Africa tribes are rich in African rituals, traditions, and ceremonies in tribal Africa. Belief in witchcraft and sorcery occurs among urban Africans as well as among rural folk. 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. 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. 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. 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. Other common African myths deal with the relationship between humans and animals and the differences in the natures of men and women. 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. The "home bringing" rite is a common African ceremony. Death is the final passage in a long chain of transitions. 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. 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”. See more ideas about African, Africa, African culture. 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. This deity is usually male and often rules with a female earth goddess or mother goddess. 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. 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. Yet certain aspects of African faiths differ from those of most world religions. 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. Hundreds of millions of Africans now claim one of these faiths as their chosen religion, and Africa is currently the site of a dramatic growth in Christian converts. 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. For example, within the Samburu tribe of Kenya, a bride lives with her husband until her pregnancy.… In some societies, individuals may choose whom to marry, and in others, marriages are carefully arranged to bond families together. Generally the rituals called on the spirits of ancestors or the spirits of nature for help and assistance. 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. One of their most integral tribal traditions is the trance dance (also known as the healing dance). Priests serve as intermediaries to appeal to the spirits to cure both physical and psychological disorders. A major distinction from one African religion to another is that each has its own unique set of spirits. 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. ", — Don Johanson, Director, Institute of Human Origins, Arizona State University. A type of divination called oracle consultation is sometimes used to determine guilt. 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. Funeral Ritulals: Senufo Wambele Masks at Grave Site, Ivory Coast. 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. Male Circumcision with Knife. 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. These images are the result of a long, enduring and deeply respectful relationship with tribal peoples. VIDEO:  Wodaabe males spend hours beautifying themselves in preparation for the Yaake charm dance. 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. It is there that they lose their childhood identities and gain their adult selves. From the moment of birth, an African child is connected to family, community and the ancestors. This powerful exhibit of African tribal ceremonies reflects 30 years of commitment to preserving the endangered cultures and peoples of 90 tribes across Africa. of ceremonies that range in length from a day to a week. 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