They regularly gathered together to create artwork, visit galleries, and have lively debates. Chatwin's narrative of bloodthirsty African kings, slavery, and French and Portuguese ambitions, is enthralling. In Cotonou, Benin's largest city, the tourist office told me to return in January, because I'd only see Voodoo at an annual festival in Ouidah offering choreographed ceremonies for Benin's trickle of largely French tourists. Each of the city's 11 divisions included workshops, where artisans created sculptures, cast bronze plaques, and carved ivory. He established a hereditary succession to the throne and vastly expanded the territory of the Benin kingdom, which by the mid-16th century extended from the Niger River delta in the east to what is now Lagos in the west. Apostle Samuel E. Agbonifo 1970 -1992 . They started to swop stories and mention of his dads death in Nigeria all those years ago nurtured in Brians mind the desire to locate his fathers grave. These days Abomey is a backwater with little pomp or grandeur. I'd come to see two surviving Unesco-listed Dahomian palaces: the 19th-century mud-walled palaces of Kings Ghezo and Glele, both packed with wonderfully macabre artefacts. 5.6K views 2 years ago The GeoEx trip, "Mystical West Africa" visits Ouidah, in Benin, considered the spiritual capital of African voodoo. Across the Atlantic, Fon, Yoruba, and other African systems of belief mixed with colonially imposed Catholicism, particularly by combining Roman Catholic saints and Fon vodun/Yoruba orisha, thereby enabling enslaved people to covertly continue their religious practices. In a shady woodland glade before the charred tree-stump fetish, adorned with jawbones, I hammered a wooden peg into the gooey shrine. I would like to say thanks once again. He immediately alerted his mother and the extended family by phone to his discovery. - People who are frustrated with chronic or recurring problems, - People who don't like to take medication, - People who have been in prolonged forms of treatment without much result, - People who are emotionally suffering and are unable to understand the source of their unhappiness, confusion, or anxiety, - Universal energy or spiritual force (non-religious) can be directed by intention, - When focused on the human body, via the aura (human energy field), it raises the spiritual vibrations of that person, improving health that allows your highest nature to unfold, - For optimum healing, repeated treatments are needed to overcome the bodys inertia. Society of African Missions - Designed and Developed by, A miraculous spiritual adventure to Benin City. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. The Roman Catholic Christians in Benin have 900 women and men in religious order and 440 priests. In addition to being the fourth-largest city in Nigeria, Benin is the largest city in Edo state. It was the crowning moment in a miraculous spiritual adventure. No matter whether your intention is rooted in the physical, emotional, or spiritual, while the healing transmission occurs your body, mind, and spirit re-emanate and heal at the deepest essential levels. Spiritualists sought to make contact with the dead, commonly through the assistance of a medium, which is a person believed to have the ability to contact spirits directly. A Mass was celebrated by Fr. Her tomb is still displayed near the Oba market in Benin City. The messages that mediums claimed to receive were examined in order to build theoretical constructs for explaining how spirit contact could occur. Read about our approach to external linking. 2. The spiritual world of Benin peoples is densely populated with spirits and ancestors. However, by the dawn of the new century, the Edo people began clearing the rainforest and eventually building homes on the land. People seek help on a variety of issues - to be cured of a disease, find a job, complete a business deal, find a spouse or have a child. Vodun majorly concentrates on spirits and divine elements that rule the earth, deities which govern human society and natural forces as well as spirits of individual trees, streams and rocks and defenders of a certain nation, clan or tribe. Fr. What Is The Difference Between Catholic And Christian? These gatherings evolved into the Sunday church services that became common in spiritualist churches in the 20th century. We know our history and tell it to our children.. For those who have lost their faith in traditional Christianity, spiritualists have offered a new religion based not on an ancient tradition but on facts that apparently can be observed by anyone. A core belief of spiritualism is that individuals survive the deaths of their bodies by ascending into a spirit existence. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Benin-historical-kingdom-West-Africa, Art and Life in Africa - University of Iowa Museum of Art - Benin Kingdom, World History Encyclopedia - Kingdom of Benin, The British Museum - Benin: an African kingdom, Humanities LibreTexts - Kingdom of Benin (1180 CE 1897 CE), kingdom of Benin - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Joseph Omesa (later Monsignor) replaced him. Historians believe residents often dressed in bright colors, primarily blue, green, and yellow. Juju or ju-ju (French: joujou, lit. The work you done on evil spirit it's unbelievable. Just five months into his contract on 20th March, 1954 he died from natural causes while inspecting a rice plantation project near Agenebode, a 2-hour drive from Benin City where he lived. Spiritual music, lyrics, and videos from Benin-City, NG on ReverbNation Not only did Benin City have an incredible network of walls, but the entire city was also built using fractal design. We passed coachloads of white-robed Christians fresh from celebrating the apparition of the Virgin Mary at Dassa-Zoume. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. The Royal Palace of the Oba of Benin. In 1974, the Guinness Book of Records recognized the historic Benin City for its extensive network of walls, which surrounded the entire kingdom and divided it into nearly 500 separate villages. largely similar to how they were in the material world, although without any physical Diviner Aboubacar Otunba Taiwo gives an Ifa consultation in Porto Novo, Benin. My reading was not particularly flattering. His body was brought back to Agenebode where he received the Sacrament of Extreme Unction. His son Eweka is regarded as the first oba, or king, of Benin, though authority would remain for many years with a hereditary order of local chiefs. Voodoo Day is a public holiday and there is a national Voodoo museum. In Benin, Fa is predominantly associated with two ethnic groups, the Fon and the Yoruba. People across West Africa, especially Togo, Ghana and Nigeria hold similar beliefs but in Benin it is recognised as an official religion, followed by some 40% of the population. The syncretism of Beninese religious life ensured some would be worshipping animist deities later that day. By the 1100s, the Edo people gained independence from the Ogisos. In halcyon times, Abomey was capital of the feared Dahomey Kingdom (Benin's former name). What's for sale at a Voodoo Fetish Market, West Africa (Shutterstock), More goods on sale at a Voodoo Fetish Market (Shutterstock). I was ready to converse with the spirit god Dankoli. Historically, spiritualism was organized in small groups that conducted sances, or meetings for spirit communication. From the sand dunes of Mauritania to the currents of River Senegal, to the Lions of the Beninese savannah to the spirits of the forests of Gabon, this series explores the origin, the nature and the survival of deep links between several populations in West Africa and their habitat.Each episode takes us to discover an emblematic landscape: the river (Senegal), the desert (Mauritania), the forest (Gabon) and the savannah (Benin). First National Spiritual Assembly of Nigeria, 1970. Benin City has a renowned teaching hospital and a number of factories. Benin City has a renowned teaching hospital and a number of factories. Mr Yaseen, a spiritualist with the highest level of Knowledge. : WELCOME TO EEK OF SPIRITUAL EMPHASIS | THURSDAY | 08-04-2021 In the inner sanctum of the Djeho Temple, built by Glele for his father Ghezo, the mortar is forged from the blood of 41 slaves. Brian contacted Fr. "White man,' growled a deep baritone voice, before moving on. Possessed by the dead, men wore flamboyant sequin-spangled capes adorned with animal and human motifs. Spiritual healing occurs largely among practitioners who do not see traditional religious faith as a prerequisite for effecting cures. However, in recent years Brian Jr., who lives near Ennis, Co. Clare became friendly with Mr. Tajudeen Busari, a native of Nigeria, who has been living in Ireland for the past twelve years. Each of these corresponds with a du sign, which has a specific name and directs the diviner to a verse from the Odu Ifa, a body of divinatory literature that is typically passed down orally. His Dahomian lineage was restored in 1995 after Marxist government rule ended and although his powers are limited these days, he's a charming man. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Just like most nominal Muslims, some nominal Christians also practice traditional local religious beliefs. People come to diviners for a medley of reasons, ranging from physical ailments to social or spiritual troubles. The city also manufactures furniture and produces beer and soft drinks. This accounts for the similarities in the two groups divination systems and the art surrounding the process. On the initial visit the place was overgrown with tall grass and it was impossible to recognise any graves. Communion with the spiritual world is both possible and desirable, and spiritual healing is the natural result of such communication. The Guardian reports the king's court was in the direct center of Benin City. - Ramandeep Kaur Cheema. It is unclear how common human sacrifice was in Benin City, and as reported by Vanguard, current Obas have denied it was ever part of the culture. It is imperative to mention that during the tenure of Fr . He explained that diviners can save lives by solving both spiritual and physical problems. Through sacrifice, bokonon are able to communicate with deities and manipulate asean intangible concept, sometimes described as spirit or life force. Everything has asepeople and animals, as well as vodun. The city is wealthy and industrious. Spiritualism in Benin is a religious movement based on the belief that departed souls can interact with the living. Meeting a Beninese king is a real highlight and not difficult to arrange: bring something to toast him and present a gratuity of about US$25-50. A letter written by Fr Michael McFadden SMA who was working in Ibadan, Oyo State and had attended thefuneral Mass in Benin City provided useful information about Brians death and the details about thefuneral Mass and burial. Many divination practices are connected to religious traditions, but they are also used to glean insight into all aspects of daily life. The chain consists of eight linked seed halves and is shaped like a U. The diviner, called bokonon in Fongbe and babalawo in Yoruba, throws the chains to the ground, where they turn up in one of the 256 possible formations. The Guardian reports one home, which is called Chief Enogie Aikoriogie's house, is believed to be the only known structure to survive the Punitive Expedition. - Spirit beings are aware of and interested in the lives of people in the material world, especially those they have temporarily left behind in the material world. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Stay tuned for more research and stories from the program. spiritualist synonyms, spiritualist pronunciation, spiritualist translation, English dictionary definition of spiritualist. The Non-Catholic Christians in Benin include Jehovah's Witness, Rosicrucians, Methodists, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Unification Church, Assemblies of God, Seventh-day Adventist, Celestial Christians, and Baptists. Sometimes, the meat is prepared and consumed by the bokonon and his client. And then fate eventually smiled upon me. Edited from a report sent by Fr Peter McCawille SMA, Society of African Missions Brian served the Mass mindful of the fact that his father Brian, Sr. had also served Mass every day on board the ship, the Aureol, which had brought him to Nigeria in the company of many Irish missionaries. Brianssudden death was a huge blow to his wife, Patricia, who is still hale and hearty and living in her native Dublin, and the other members of his family. Although spiritualist practices have been motivated by mere curiosity and fascination with the supernatural, they have also been driven by more serious concerns about the fate of the human soul. In human cultures in general, and perhaps particularly in Africa, the landscape is the first shrine of tradition. McCawille with his request for information. was then in Rome receiving his faculties as the Local Ordinary of Benin City. Very early in the movement, however, sances featuring more spectacular physical phenomena were conducted, and mediums arose who specialized in such displays. The Voodoo spiritual world consists of Mahou, the supreme being and about 100 divinities - or Voodoos - who represent different phenomena, such as war and blacksmiths (Gou), illness, healing and. The descendants of Benins ruling dynasty still occupy the throne in Benin City (although the present-day oba has only an advisory role in government). Get the very best of Wanderlustby signing up to our newsletters, full of travel inspiration, fun quizzes, exciting competitions and exclusive offers. I raised my camera but several men with panic-stricken expressions warned me not to. I politely refused seconds. There are 10+ professionals named "Spiritual Healer", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. Since that time, increasing numbers of people throughout the country have been finding inspiration and guidance in the teachings of Bah'u'llh. Dr. Guillory's upcoming book draws on years of archival research, ethnographic observation, and oral history interviews to . Written nearly 30 years ago, it tells of Dom Francisco de Silva, a 19th-century Brazilian migrant who became Benin's most notorious slave trader. In term s of administration , the spiritual leader/General overseers that have administered the church till date are: Most Snr. Spiritual healing in Benin originates in spirit and is a popular practice based on energy flow. The number of those who practiced yoga jumped from 9.5% to 14.3% . A pioneer Missionary to the North America born on the 16th June 1947 at Iguogie, in Benin City. Benin is bathed in simplistic beauty yet possesses a thrilling, mystical underbelly. Seated in a padded armchair, wearing a blue skullcap, white tunic and chequered sarong, his majesty recounted his royal predecessors back to 1620 and in the spirit ofentente cordialewe discussed subjects as diverse as the Channel Tunnel and Concorde's demise. Keeping with tradition, the palace is situated in the center of the city. Is climate change killing Australian wine? Protestantism and other Non-Catholic Christians in Benin account for 16% of the population. The Benin Empire was ultimately destroyed during the Benin Punitive Expedition of 1897. The Gate of No Return in Ouidah, Benin (Shutterstock). 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Barefoot, I stepped onto a putrefying mound of candle wax, palm oil and the feathers and blood of sacrificed goats and chickens. The walls around the perimeter of the kingdom were also surrounded by deep moats, which provided Benin with another degree of protection, The Guardian reports Benin's walls were "four times longer than the Great Wall of China, and consumed a hundred times more material than the Great Pyramid of Cheops," and reportedly took the Edo people an "estimated 150 million hours" to complete. After beseeching the god to grant my wish, I sealed our deal by anointing the shrine with blood-red palm oil and spitting out three mouthfuls of fiery homemade gin. The city is also linked by roads to Sapele, Siluko, Okene, and Ubiaja and is served by air and the Niger River delta ports of Koko and Sapele. It traces the journey of people of African descent throughout the world: in Ghana, the Ewe people call it Vodun; in Brazil, it is Vodum; in . Living Faith Means Living Justly Programme, Jos: Causes of violence are not religious. Spiritual has 1 job listed on their profile. As he told me about Voodoo's living dead we consumed Johnny Walker whisky. As reported by National Geographic, Benin was also known for its unique architecture, bronze sculptures, and practical infrastructure. In the tiny West African nation of Benin, Voodoo remains the state religion. Most Muslims in Benin practice the Sunni which is an Islamic branch with the existence of Shi'a Muslims who are very few and are mostly expatriates from the Middle East. It was a hugely emotional moment for Brian, standing at the grave of the father whom he had never met and who had died almost 57 years ago to the day. It traces the final 3.5km walk made by thousands of slaves from Ouidah to the Atlantic coast, many dispatched long after abolition by Dom Francisco de Souza. Contact Details. For more information about spiritual healing in Benin, please feel free to contact our friendly team of experts today! "The power of Mawa-Lissa (Voodoo's Supreme Being) sent Fa to earth as a medium to answer questions about the future," Yvette told me, also describing how the medium casts his beads into one of 256 positions that he then interprets as the word of his god. The subject of Brians sudden death so far from home was scarcely ever mentioned over the years. Support the Folklife Festival, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, sustainability projects, educational outreach, and more. The spiritualists understand God as infinite intelligence. Fr McCawille visited all three searching for any information about the whereabouts of the grave of the late Brian McCormack Snr. - Ramandeep Kaur Cheema. No solid information emerged. Bishop Patrick J Kelly of Benin City was present at the mortuary for the removal of Brians remains to the Holy Cross Cathedral in Benin City. Photo by Rebecca Fenton. Over the next 200 years, the Igodomigodo Kingdom thrived but the Edo people became disenchanted with the Ogisos. Benin City is situated on a branch of the Benin River and lies along the main highways from Lagos to the eastern states. These images, drawn from collections across the Smithsonian, explore the material culture of Fa divination and its natural and international connections. Fathers Conlon and Kennedy now live at the SMA House, Wilton, Cork. b. Thanks to the kindness and co-operation of the Chief Executive of the Hospitals Management Board, Dr. M. A. Osumah, and the Secretary, Mr Ofure Oriafor, the grave was located. He spent the next two days with his friend, Tajudeen who is a Muslim, tidying up the grave and painting it. The kingdom of Benin (in present-day Nigeria) was plunged into a state of turmoil at the end of the fifteenth century when the oba (king) Ozolua died and left two powerful sons to dispute succession. Porto Novo's ceremonial king no longer resides inside Honme's maze of red-earthen compounds. Some Egungun whirled like dervishes, green, silver and yellow capes creating spinning circles. Brian McCormack and his friend Tajudeen Busari arrived in Benin City on Sunday, 7th March and visited the grave the next day. To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. I'd fallen completely under her spell. Sign up for our newsletter today
Yet what really captivated me were the tales of Voodoo, a practice that is still followed by over 60% of Beninese today and considered the state religion. Today, Ifa divination is recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage, and bokonon have continued to adapt to and take advantage of technology, selling palm nuts and divining trays on Etsy and even performing divinations over WhatsApp. Benin City. With Yvette's help and a cash donation I was finally able to attend an otherwise closed ceremony. This approach is in harmony with any other healing work you . Copyright 2023 - Yasseen Spiritualist - All rights reserved. In 2016, the population of Benin City was estimated to be 1,500,000. As he paraded through a crowd, some people collapsed, shaking like fever-pitched evangelists on American TV. The nuts are tossed and caught systematically, and their positions are recorded on the divination boards, which are covered in a divination powder made of the irosun tree, or another plant powder, such as bamboo. Tradition asserts that the Edo people became dissatisfied with the rule of a dynasty of semimythical kings, the ogisos, and in the 13th century they invited Prince Oranmiyan of Ife to rule them. Stick-bearers tried to stop the Egunguns' robes inauspiciously touching the living. During the treatment session, the client is always made to feel safe and comfortable with some spiritual healers preferring to have their clients lie on a massage table, while others may ask if they can remain sitting up. The work you done on evil spirit it's unbelievable. It also profited greatly from the slave trade. conditions - usually through a medium. Unlike many western religious beliefs, Yoruba spirituality emphasizes living a good life; reincarnation is part of the process and is something to be looked forward to. According to Bacon, the town was rife with "crucifixions, human sacrifices, and every horror the eye could get accustomed to blood was everywhere; smeared over bronzes, ivory, and even the walls." Hornbills glided across the road with greater ease than the strugglingtaxis-brousse(bush taxis) bearing chassis-bending loads of people and cargo bound for Cotonou. In 1843, English Methodists began in Benin spreading among the Gun people from the coastal region. It was spooky. Ouidah's market sells grotesque ritualistic accoutrements used in ceremonies. And, hurrah, Voodoo-dolls were tucked into their sarongs, each representing the number of deities they individually worshipped. Some Voodoo priests use herbs to cure the sick - and possibly to poison enemies. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. "If you see their eyes, you will die!" Yovo, yovo, bonjour. Email powered by MailChimp (Privacy Policy, Terms of Use), Living traditions of, by, and for the people. Kowtowing proved a little harder on the way out. But Voodoo is more than a belief system, it is a complete way of life, including culture, philosophy, language, art, dance, music and medicine. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). As reported by Black Past, Benin City still has an Oba, who fulfills a traditional cultural role and participates in local and federal governmental proceedings. One of the most notorious of Benin City's sacrifices was Queen Iden, who was the wife of Oba Ewuape. Vodun has proven itself to be boundlessly adaptable and versatile, enabling it to spread across the world, due in large part to the diasporic effects of the transatlantic slave trade. Beninese worship a pantheon of Voodoo deities and with a good guide and a few financial inducements, authentic ceremonies can be witnessed all year round. The sign is determined by the diviner and named aloud, solidifying the results. But during the 18th and early 19th centuries the kingdom was weakened by violent succession struggles between members of the royal dynasty, some of which erupted into civil wars. However, just when it seemed unlikely that he would find the grave he wandered into Holy Cross Cathedral (where Brians Funeral Mass had taken place nearly 56 years before) compound to talk to some of the older members (parishioners), hoping that one of them might have some recollection of what cemetery was in use at the time. and never miss out again. I lost all my hopes getting rid of this evil spirit after trying many years get rid of him but you made the impossible thing into possible and that is out of our life. Still, it was an enjoyable, melodious, almost gospel affair. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH BENIN CITY (1941 - 2021) ST. . Although it was built after the Punitive Expedition of 1897, Benin's Royal Palace of the Oba is officially listed as one of Nigeria's heritage sites. During the expedition, Benin was decimated and burned to the ground. I won't reveal what I wished for. Christianity is the largest religion in Benin, with substantial populations of Muslims and adherents of traditional faiths. Latest Testimonials. Some mediums worked while in a trancelike state, and some claimed to be the catalyst for various paranormal physical phenomena (including the materializing or moving of objects) through which spirits announce their presence.
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