The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. - 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. In a cupboard-sized room, crammed with potions, the medium Casmin Fabiyi fingered his Fa beads (threads of eight wooden disks) like a rosary. See the complete profile on LinkedIn and discover Spiritual's connections and jobs at similar companies. The number of those who practiced yoga jumped from 9.5% to 14.3% . The smaller side streets were also built in mathematical patterns. Religion and the spiritual realm Art and politics Rites of passage Masquerade basics Art and the individual . The palace, which was declared one of Nigeria 's UNESCO Listed Heritage sites in 1999, is an architectural wonder. The work you done on evil spirit it's unbelievable. Vodun is a traditional religion that connects not only West Africans in Togo, Nigeria, Benin, and Ghana, but is spread throughout the diaspora. What's for sale at a Voodoo Fetish Market, West Africa (Shutterstock), More goods on sale at a Voodoo Fetish Market (Shutterstock). His twosons, Paul, born in December 1951 and his younger brother, Brian, born in November 1953, just after his father had gone to Nigeria, were not old enough to fully understand the circumstances surrounding their dads death at the age of 37. It is quite small at 9.6 inches high, 4.9 inches wide, and 2.4 inches deep (24.5 cm H, 12.5 cm W, and 6 cm D). Voodoo priests ask these gods to intervene on behalf of ordinary people but local adherents stress that they have nothing to do with sorcery or black magic. - When people are ill, it is common for them to say that they are low in energy; conversely when people are healthy, we talk about them bursting with energy. In present-day Benin and Nigeria, Dahomey, a Fon kingdom founded in the seventeenth century, and Oyo, a Yoruba kingdom founded in the fourteenth century, were rival states. Still, it was an enjoyable, melodious, almost gospel affair. Animals are often sacrificed in order to bring good luck. Historically, spiritualism was organized in small groups that conducted sances, or meetings for spirit communication. As reported by The Guardian, each home had three sections. Communion with the spiritual world is both possible and desirable, and spiritual healing is the . and interpenetrates the material world. 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). - 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. The next day I would witness something extraordinary. Incredibly, he met one man who felt sure that in those days Europeans were buried in a cemetery close to the former Police Station. Video, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, Met Gala 2023: Stars celebrate Karl Lagerfeld, Shooting suspect was deported four times - US media, Yellen warns US could run out of cash in a month, King Charles to wear golden robes for Coronation, Photo of Princess Charlotte shared as she turns 8, Street piano confiscated as public 'break rules', Explosion derails train in Russian border region. As reported by The Guardian, Benin city was virtually free from crime, and its residents never went hungry. It was designed to be worn suspended on the chest or hips during important ceremonies by the two large side hoops framing the face. And then fate eventually smiled upon me. My true motivation wasThe Viceroy of Ouidah, a lyrical novella by Bruce Chatwin. Women painting voodoo symbols in a Benin village (Shutterstock). In addition to being the fourth-largest city in Nigeria, Benin is the largest city in Edo state. A harmonious female choir sang beautifully and gyrated before the head priest who sat with an ivory cane beneath an inflatable Santa Claus. Under these obas Benin became a highly organized state. 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. Not only did Benin City have an incredible network of walls, but the entire city was also built using fractal design. 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. Islam was brought into Benin by the Songhai-Dendi traders and Hausa from the north. 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. I met an English-speaking teacher called Yvette who took me to see a local Fa reader. Synonyms for SPIRITUALIST: psychic, spiritist, medium, channeler, clairvoyant, telepath, channel, mentalist, mind reader, sensitive Her tomb is still displayed near the Oba market in Benin City. The main room of the house, which was in the center, was the husband's quarters, the wives' quarters were to the left of the main quarters, and the young men's quarters were on the right. Copyright 2023 - Yasseen Spiritualist - All rights reserved. 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. 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. Nor does he take advantage of the royal bathhouse where two new queens were once prepared for the reigning monarch every 21 days, or the mysterious chambre noire where successive rulers consulted the spirits about their destiny. Beneath an archway on the shoreline, designed to symbolise 'The Gates of No Return', I watched the pummelling Atlantic surf churn grey with sediment and contemplated the terrified thoughts of captured Africans being paddled out to waiting slave galleons bobbing on the horizon. Later that afternoon, Yvette and I travelled byzemidjan(motorbike-taxi) to Manikpe Tolapata temple, ten minutes outside Porto Novo. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. 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. Photo by Rebecca Fenton. Google Arts and Culture reports Queen Iden was, and is, considered a hero for the sacrifice she made for the betterment of Benin city. After the Mass Bishop Kelly accompanied the funeral to the cemetery where he blessed the grave and led the prayers of Christian Burial. 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. Ewuare was succeeded by a line of strong obas, chief of whom were Ozolua the Conqueror (c. 1481c. Although the specific age of the home is unknown, the architectural style suggests it was built in the mid to late 1800s. He promptly rang Fr. The land, which is presently part of southern Nigeria, remained under British control until 1960. In The Slave Trade, Depopulation and Human Sacrifice in Benin History, author James D. Graham recounts Commander Bacon's impression of Benin City. King Ghezo's intricately carved throne rests upon four skulls of rival chiefs while beyond all taste (amid fine Portuguese silks and British cut-glass decanters) is a royal flywhisk assembled from a human cranium attached to a horsetail. Feeling positive now. Although the majority of the population in Benin City describe themselves as Christian, many also believe in the indigenous spiritual customs. These images, drawn from collections across the Smithsonian, explore the material culture of Fa divination and its natural and international connections. Spiritual music, lyrics, and videos from Benin City, NG on ReverbNation Mr Yaseen, a spiritualist with the highest level of Knowledge. These days Abomey is a backwater with little pomp or grandeur. Latest Testimonials. The kingdoms prosperity declined with the suppression of the slave trade, and, as its territorial extent shrank, Benins leaders increasingly relied on supernatural rituals and large-scale human sacrifices to protect the state from further territorial encroachment. Apostle Samuel E. Agbonifo 1970 -1992 . Diviner Aboubacar Taiwo of Porto Novo, Benin, works for many long-distance clients. He hails from Obrumudu-Oghara Ethiope West Local . Before the Mass Brian placed a laminated photo of his father and a card from his mother on the grave. The messages that mediums claimed to receive were examined in order to build theoretical constructs for explaining how spirit contact could occur. Some simply scared the crowd. Each of the city's 11 divisions included workshops, where artisans created sculptures, cast bronze plaques, and carved ivory. The African American Spiritual Churches are combinatory religious sites, which blend Protestant, Catholic, Spiritualist, Haitian Voodoo, and Benin's traditional Vodun practices. The Oba of Benin is the traditional ruler of the Edo people, and his palace has sacred cultural significance. Benin, one of the principal historic kingdoms of the western African forest region (fl. Until one evening, while enjoying a fried fish and tomato-infused maize meal, a huge commotion occurred. In Benin, Christianity is the most practiced religion with more than half of the entire Christian group belonging to Roman Catholicism. They are practiced in Haiti, Cuba, Brazil, and the United States as an aspect of religions such as Santeria, Voodoo, and Candombl. 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. The Guardian reports the king's court was in the direct center of Benin City. McCawille with his request for information. 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." Email: bestresult786@yahoo.co.uk. Materials & Size It is a pendant mask made of elephant ivory, iron, and copper alloy. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Some Voodoo priests use herbs to cure the sick - and possibly to poison enemies. Christianity entered Benin during the late 16th century. However its rich, and somewhat unusual, past, remains an intriguing part of its legacy. As he paraded through a crowd, some people collapsed, shaking like fever-pitched evangelists on American TV. b. Various chronic, recurring, or nagging conditions can be healed or greatly relieved by the more subtle processes of spiritual healing. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. It also profited greatly from the slave trade. He immediately alerted his mother and the extended family by phone to his discovery. However, my next destination, Chatwin's occult capital Ouidah, promised something a little morenoire. 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. However, they also took great pride in their city. Roman Catholicism is by far the largest religious group in Benin and is followed closely by Islam and Vodun. With this knowledge I headed to Porto Novo, a lagoon-facing former French colonial city of 350,000 people, 40-minutes drive from busy Cotonou, and on the flat coastal plain of south Benin's Voodoo heartland. See more information about the objects on Learning Lab. Each home was also outfitted with a well, which provided the family with fresh water. Black Past reports Benin City is once again thriving. We ended by sipping cassava gin infused with herbs to remedy erectile dysfunction. Spiritualism in Benin What is Spiritualism? Also basic to spiritualist practice is spirit healing. Among the precursors of spiritualism was the Magnetist movement, which had grown out of the magnetic healing theories of Franz Anton Mesmer. 135 views, 6 likes, 0 loves, 2 comments, 2 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Living Faith Church, GRA. In an attempt to bring her husband peace, and secure his position as Oba, Queen Iden offered herself to be sacrificed. McCawille immediately communicated the good news to Brian, Jr. who was about to leave Ireland on a wing and a prayer on his journey of discovery to Nigeria. The strong involvement of emotion in both the acceptance and the rejection of spiritualism has made it difficult to appraise impartially the evidence for and against it. Later my hotel proprietor explained it to be Gounko, a Nigerian-Yoruba Voodoo figure that chased away evil spirits. Fa divination retains its popularity because many believe it really works, and a consultation is not usually viewed as conflicting with other religious views, such as Christianity. 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. This is far from the truth. 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. Copyright 2023 - Yasseen Spiritualist - All rights reserved. Benin City's family homes were also built using fractal design. Fa diviner Koffi Akossa uses chains of kola nut pieces and other materials to gain insight into clients situations. Fa divination is intrinsically connected to the environment, using materials such as kola and palm nuts, palm oil, leaves, and flour, plus animal sacrifice. The Guardian reports residents kept their homes extraordinarily clean. Privileged regalia. The spiritualists understand God as infinite intelligence. He spent the next two days with his friend, Tajudeen who is a Muslim, tidying up the grave and painting it. He completed the prescribed sacrifices following a January consultation and sent video evidence of them over WhatsApp to his absent client. To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. The Republic of Benin is a West African country that is bordered by Niger, Burkina Faso, Togo, and Nigeria. 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. When Mami Wata'sVoodoosis(followers) filed in, predominately women in white robes, I was very excited. 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. 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. 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). Top 10 Alcohol Consuming Countries In The World, Protestantism and Other Forms of Non-Catholic Christianity, West African Folk Religions and Traditional Beliefs other than Vodun, Eckankar, Baha'i Faith, and Other Beliefs. Authority and power are affirmed through observing ancestral veneration rituals. Kowtowing proved a little harder on the way out. On a high, I headed north to Abomey the next day. For more information about spiritual healing in Benin, please feel free to contact our friendly team of experts today! Between 1440 and the late 1800s, the Benin Empire thrived and became a successful center for trade. My reading was not particularly flattering. In addition to being notably straight, the roads were built with ditches and outlets that carried stormwater away from the city. First National Spiritual Assembly of Nigeria, 1970. Updates? The term has been applied to traditional African religions.. Spiritualism in Benin is a religious movement based on the belief that departed souls can interact with the living. 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. In a shady woodland glade before the charred tree-stump fetish, adorned with jawbones, I hammered a wooden peg into the gooey shrine. However, it gained independence in 1960 and became the capital of Edo state in 1963. Sometimes, the meat is prepared and consumed by the bokonon and his client. Since that time, increasing numbers of people throughout the country have been finding inspiration and guidance in the teachings of Bah'u'llh.
