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The spiritualists understand God as infinite intelligence. Two brothers, Joe and Ger, and a sister, Eileen Irwin, still reside in Castlebar. 5.6K views 2 years ago The GeoEx trip, "Mystical West Africa" visits Ouidah, in Benin, considered the spiritual capital of African voodoo. Spiritual has 1 job listed on their profile. Her tomb is still displayed near the Oba market in Benin City. I'd fallen completely under her spell. However, by the dawn of the new century, the Edo people began clearing the rainforest and eventually building homes on the land. In 2020, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival will feature a program about the West African nation of Benin and how communities connect to their environment through spirituality and traditional knowledge. At The Tree of Forgetfulness, Remi explained how "slaves would circle nine times to magically forget everything, so they weren't sad in their new lives.". Benin City has a renowned teaching hospital and a number of factories. 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. The harmonious singing commenced, as before, but altogether more frenetic. An attractive city of spirits worshipped by the animist Goun people, Porto Novo's most visible ghosts are world-weary French houses with honey-coloured facades and peeling shutters, and I spent my first morning exploring its fine museums. Each home was also outfitted with a well, which provided the family with fresh water. 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). In Benin, descent is patrilineal, as only the father appeals to ancestors on behalf of the family. Benin, one of the principal historic kingdoms of the western African forest region (fl. - Deepening connections with other people, - Seeking greater meaning and purpose in life, - Desiring to make the world a better place, - Asking deep questions about topics such as suffering and what happens after death, - Experiencing compassion and empathy for others, - Experiencing feelings of interconnectedness, - Seeking happiness beyond material possessions or other external rewards, - Less stress, even during difficult times, - Greater capacity to handle stress and stressful situations. A person's condition after death is directly related to the moral quality of his human existence. 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. Religious leaders suggested a human sacrifice would help restore order to the kingdom. However, it gained independence in 1960 and became the capital of Edo state in 1963. The land, which is presently part of southern Nigeria, remained under British control until 1960. This is far from the truth. Its numerous craftsmen were organized into guilds, and the kingdom became famous for its ivory and wood carvers. 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. However, today's Benin City remains one of Nigeria's most prosperous centers of trade. The Guinness Book of Records noted Benin's walls were "the world's largest earthworks prior to the mechanical era.". "If you see their eyes, you will die!" In halcyon times, Abomey was capital of the feared Dahomey Kingdom (Benin's former name). 13th-19th century). After the Mass he carried a memento from the grave and the candle used during the Mass back to Ireland with him. Suddenly an ageing lady, head lolling on her neck, pulled down her top and started beating her breasts. Many associations also sponsored camps where believers could congregate in a leisurely atmosphere, have private sessions with mediums, and attend daily sances. IGHODARO AYELALA SPIRITUAL TEMPLE was incorporated in BENIN-CITY, Nigeria with Registration Number 89089. The palace, which was declared one of Nigeria 's UNESCO Listed Heritage sites in 1999, is an architectural wonder. R.I.P. the actual grave was located. deficiencies. 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. As reported by The Guardian, each home had three sections. It also profited greatly from the slave trade. The audience hall in the palace in Benin City, in present-day Nigeria, was a space made to wow. Progress was slow and largely unproductive. I won't reveal what I wished for. Brian McCormack and his friend Tajudeen Busari arrived in Benin City on Sunday, 7th March and visited the grave the next day. 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. The Bah' Faith was first established in Nigeria in the 1940s. McCawille in the cemetery on Wednesday, 10th March, to which all those local people who had helped in finding the grave were invited. Across Africa, the practice of divination is a way of knowing that is widely used and widely varied. Voodoo spirituality, known in Ghana as Vodun, is one of them. Read about our approach to external linking. 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. Contrary to the British troops' description of the Benin Kingdom, other visitors described the city as civilized and clean. 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. His two sons, Paul, born in December . Authority and power are affirmed through observing ancestral veneration rituals. Across Africa, the practice of divination is a way of knowing that is widely used and . 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. It is so well governed that theft is unknown and the people live in such security that they have no doors to their houses.". The Guardian reports residents kept their homes extraordinarily clean. Ewuare was succeeded by a line of strong obas, chief of whom were Ozolua the Conqueror (c. 1481c. As reported by BBC, their newly formed kingdom, Igodomigodo, was ruled by kings who were called Ogisos, or "rulers of the sky.". shouted Remi above the cacophony. The oba became the supreme political, judicial, economic, and spiritual leader of his people, and he and his ancestors eventually became the object of state cults that utilized human sacrifice in their religious observances. Living Faith Means Living Justly Programme, Jos: Causes of violence are not religious. It was registered on 19 Jul 2016 and it's current status is unknown. 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. When Mami Wata'sVoodoosis(followers) filed in, predominately women in white robes, I was very excited. Rituals, related to the Benin cosmic view form an intrinsic part of life. Spiritual guidance questions and answer sessions by Dr. James L. Thompkins and Dr. Leon Moss: Dr. Leon Moss : www.holy-tab: Spiritual: Iam Ubuntu: I am Ubuntu Ministry is available for the community for worship service. Incredibly, he met one man who felt sure that in those days Europeans were buried in a cemetery close to the former Police Station. From \"Today In Africa\"Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TRACKSTravelChannel/Content licensed from ZED Media to Little Dot Studios.Any queries, please contact us at: owned-enquiries@littledotstudios.com - 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. Divination practices typically conclude with a sacrifice. - Ramandeep Kaur Cheema. The Vodun worship believes in a divine Creator known as Mawu or Mahu a female being who gave birth to seven children and gave them dominion over seven different realms of nature. According to Koffi Thomas Akossi, a diviner in Ouidah, Benin, a diviner is like a guide. "The priests pray for bad spirits to fly away," said a neighbouring man, before a shriek rippled the now feverish crowd. Anyhow this was not my real inspiration for visiting Benin, a peaceful democratic West African minnow squeezed between Nigeria and Togo. Those for whom materialistic ways of thinking have precluded belief in a life after death have been given a new hope of immortality. Then Casmin rang a bell. Spiritualism in Benin is a religious movement based on the belief that departed souls can interact with the living. Contemporary Fa divination usually involves a divining chain, called an akplekan or an opele, after the seeds out of which it is made. : WELCOME TO EEK OF SPIRITUAL EMPHASIS | THURSDAY | 08-04-2021 Casmin was soon swirling his beads around, eyes glazed and mumbling repetitive invocations. 'plaything') is a spiritual belief system incorporating objects, such as amulets, and spells used in religious practice in West Africa by the people of Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Congo and Cameroon. Although rumors suggest a portion of one of the walls remains intact, hidden in the Nigerian bush, it is unlikely as there was no effort to preserve or restore any of the remnants left standing following the Punitive Expedition. From the 15th through the 18th century Benin carried on an active trade in ivory, palm oil, and pepper with Portuguese and Dutch traders, for whom it served as a link with tribes in the interior of western Africa. Here, members of the Bah' community are working together with their . 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. The practice of human sacrifice was stamped out only after the burning of Benin City in 1897 by the British, after which the depopulated and debilitated kingdom was incorporated into British Nigeria. Other times, sacrifices are distributed to the neighborhood or to nearby children, and this can be referred to as sara, deriving from Arabic for charity or alms. 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. Nowadays it's possible to meet the King of Dahomey and keep your head. The white-robed women looked altogether more edgy, with kohl-etched eyes and tattoos. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com, 3 Requirements To Achieve Happiness According to Epictetus, 10 Countries Where Women Far Outnumber Men. Spiritual healing occurs largely among practitioners who do not see traditional religious faith as a prerequisite for effecting cures. Other variants of the system are found across the region, a result of its dynamic history. This approach is in harmony with any other healing work you . was then in Rome receiving his faculties as the Local Ordinary of Benin City. Amid the British Punitive Expedition, Commander R. H. Bacon disputed reports that Benin was a productive, modern, and civilized city. and interpenetrates the material world. And then fate eventually smiled upon me. Benin City has a renowned teaching hospital and a number of factories. Elsewhere, I learnt that Glele's harem once overflowed with 4,000 brides - remarkably his libido and heart held out for 31 years of rule. If an animal, typically a chicken or goat, is called for, its blood is spilled onto the altar of the vodun being invoked, along with other offerings such as palm oil, gin, flour, fruit, kola nuts, and even soda and candy. Feeling positive now. Get the very best of Wanderlustby signing up to our newsletters, full of travel inspiration, fun quizzes, exciting competitions and exclusive offers. After two days in a taxi with a driver called Filbert, the coastal plain subsided to a rippling landscape of green bush and ochre roads, studded by granite hills. Spiritual healing in Benin originates in spirit and is a popular practice based on energy flow. Email powered by MailChimp (Privacy Policy, Terms of Use), Living traditions of, by, and for the people. Blood and divinity are linked concepts in Vodun, and the process of animal sacrifice is seen as a way to nourish both vodun and ancestral spirits, and as a way to share ase through the human consumption of the animal. There are 10+ professionals named "Spiritual Healer", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. As part of the healing process, some healers use touch while others will have their hands a few inches away from the clients body or will simply sit opposite their client. 1 follower Join to view profile Self-employed. 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 next day I would witness something extraordinary. The work you done on evil spirit it's unbelievable. Historians believe residents often dressed in bright colors, primarily blue, green, and yellow. Members of this secretive cult patrol Beninese streets after dark like unofficial police, dressing in haystack costumes and sporting sticks to beat unruly citizens. Feeling positive now. Those suffering from grief after the death of loved ones have been offered the possibility of communicating with them. Protestantism and other Non-Catholic Christians in Benin account for 16% of the population. This is one of Beninese Voodoo's most explosive events, where departed ancestral spirits take the form of humans in order to impart wisdom and justice to the living. 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. What's for sale at a Voodoo Fetish Market, West Africa (Shutterstock), More goods on sale at a Voodoo Fetish Market (Shutterstock). The population of Benin is approximately 10.8 million people with their official dialect being French. I would like to say thanks once again. I lost all my hopes getting rid of this . I raised my camera but several men with panic-stricken expressions warned me not to. 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. The client purchases ingredients as determined by the diviner, and the diviner prepares and executes the sacrifice, accompanied by sung and chanted prayer. The type of people who would gain benefits from consulting with a Spiritual Healer in Benin include: Spiritual healing usually picks up where other treatments left off. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH BENIN CITY (1941 - 2021) ST. . Juju or ju-ju (French: joujou, lit. 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. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. In addition to being the fourth-largest city in Nigeria, Benin is the largest city in Edo state. I sensed the Voodoo floodgates were opening. Joseph Omesa (later Monsignor) replaced him. Fa divination is intrinsically connected to the environment, using materials such as kola and palm nuts, palm oil, leaves, and flour, plus animal sacrifice. It predates the use of modern earth-moving equipment or technology in these. Every morning the irresistible aroma of freshly baked baguette drove me mad with hunger pangs and after a few days Voodoo was the last thing on my mind. Under these obas Benin became a highly organized state. I met an English-speaking teacher called Yvette who took me to see a local Fa reader. Edited from a report sent by Fr Peter McCawille SMA, Society of African Missions Megan Grabill is a research intern at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and an anthropology and comparative studies major at Oberlin College. As he told me about Voodoo's living dead we consumed Johnny Walker whisky. 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. As reported by The Guardian, Benin city was virtually free from crime, and its residents never went hungry. The city is wealthy and industrious. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. As reported by National Geographic, Benin was also known for its unique architecture, bronze sculptures, and practical infrastructure. He completed the prescribed sacrifices following a January consultation and sent video evidence of them over WhatsApp to his absent client. This accounts for the similarities in the two groups divination systems and the art surrounding the process. Once again I was being swept along by a society offering a magical snapshot of life and beliefs before European Christianity arrived. Spiritualist belief developed during the early decades of the movement. Spiritual music, lyrics, and videos from Benin City, NG on ReverbNation Diviner Aboubacar Otunba Taiwo gives an Ifa consultation in Porto Novo, Benin. and never miss out again. About 70km west from Porto Novo, Ouidah is the most atmospheric and elegantly crumbling small city. 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. Email: bestresult786@yahoo.co.uk. Fr. After the Mass Bishop Kelly accompanied the funeral to the cemetery where he blessed the grave and led the prayers of Christian Burial. 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. conditions - usually through a medium. A sort of 'must try harder' school report, potentially remedied by sleeping under a white sheet with a light left on. These gatherings evolved into the Sunday church services that became common in spiritualist churches in the 20th century. Handcrafted voodoo statues for sale at the Benin Voodoo festival, near Ouidah (Shutterstock). 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. Religion and the spiritual realm Art and politics Rites of passage Masquerade basics Art and the individual . They also sometimes ask for offerings, such as a chicken or a sheep, which is then sacrificed to the divinity, or some alcohol is poured onto the floor. Christianity is the largest religion in Benin, with substantial populations of Muslims and adherents of traditional faiths. On a high, I headed north to Abomey the next day.
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