The Way of the Elders: West African Spirituality & TraditionContemporary West African culture harbors rich and meaningful spiritual traditions. Yet, there are few written records of West Africa's major beliefs, rituals, and ceremonies. The Way of the Elders co-authored by a West African native raised in the Mande tradition offers rare and authentic insight into the spirituality of West Africa, and particularly the Mande culture. This spiritual guidebook explains fundamental beliefs, such as reverence for the One Spirit, that permeate tribal life. Offerings, charms, herbal healing, shamans and their functions, the importance of wildlife, and the four elements of nature are discussed in detail. The second half of the book is devoted to sacred living and focuses on village life, sacred music and dance, pregnancy, birth, childhood initiation, marriage, death, and funerals. |
Contents
Dreams Signs Symbols | 7 |
75 | 19 |
II | 83 |
11 | 95 |
13 | 139 |
Death Funerals | 149 |
15 | 155 |
Notes | 171 |
Bibliography | 179 |
Other editions - View all
The Way of the Elders: West African Spirituality and Tradition Adama & Naomi Doumbia No preview available - 2022 |
Common terms and phrases
African ancestors animal spirit baby balafon Bamana baobab bards Baylo blessings blood body bring bush spirits calabash celebrations charms child circumcision consume cowrie creatures dance disruptive spirits diviner drink drum Dwarf spirits earth elders energy fertility Guinea harmful spirits healers healing herbal herbs honor hunter ingredients initiates jembé jun-juns kola nuts kolobé Kunjé leave levels of nyama libations live Mali Malinké Mande marriage millet Modi Bouramani mortar mortar and pestle mother mystical naming ceremonies ngoni ntoro Nyelini objects one's palm wine perform pestle plants play possess potent levels pray prayer pregnancy protection rite of passage ritual Rose Bird sacred Sanfin Diallo Sanjé Senegal serve shamans shea butter shells skin snake Sometimes special herbs spirit abode spirit of water story Sumanguru Kante symbol teach tion traditions tree twins village wash wear West Africa Wolof woman women