President Ramon Magsaysay State University

Iba, Zambales
Graduate School

MAED – SOCIAL STUDIES

Course/CodeTitle: MA SS 302 Selected Topics in the Social Sciences for Social

Report Topic: Rituals and Rites in African Cosmology
Objectives: Discuss the distinction between Rituals and Rites and examples of
rituals and rites: the case of initiation rites and rituals in African
Cosmology (Kyalo, 2013)
Professor: Dr. Marie Fe de Guzman
Presenter: Mr. Paul Bryan B. Badar and Mr. Wean Chad Balangon

Introduction
According to the American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Cosmology is a
system of belief that seeks explanation of the origin and structure of the universe. In a primitive
society, cosmologies help to explain the relationship between human beings and its universe.
African cosmology helps us to understand the exploration of African creation myths.
According to Ring, Nancy C., et. al. (1998) rituals are found in introduction community and are a
primary means of social communication and cohesion.

Distinction between rituals and rites

According to Kyalo (2013) rituals and rites has no clear or vivid explanation on the distinction in
between. The word rituals has a symbolic action which focus a certain kind of power through the
use of natural signs and symbols. A rite is a specific ritual action or practice.

RITES

 A rite is a formal religious ceremony.

 Rites - When rites are performed in the highest manner, then both the emotions and the
form embodying them are fully realized. Through rites Heaven and Earth join in
harmony, the sun and moon shine the four season's process in order and all things
flourish.
 The African Rite refers to a now defunct Christian, Western liturgical rite, and is
considered a development or possibly a local use of the primitive Roman Rite.
 Rites of passage as could be seen in this work dealt with the various ritual which an
individual undergo from one stage to another
  A rite is a fundamental act (or set of rituals) performed according to prescribed social
rules and customs.
 The African Rite may be considered in two different periods:
1. The ante-Nicene period when Christians were persecuted and could not freely
develop forms of public worship, and when the liturgical prayers and acts had not
become fixed;
2. The post-Nicene period when the simple, improvised forms of prayer gave way to
more elaborate, set formularies, and the primitive liturgical actions evolved into grand
and formal ceremonies.
There are five major African initiation rites which are fundamental to human growth and
development.
1. Rite of Birth – this is the first major African Initiation rites that involves initiating infant
into the world through a ritual and naming ceremony. This is done to clearly determine
the new community member’s mission in order to guide him/her through their life path.
The infant’s name is given after the determination of the mission and it is a reflection of
the infant’s personality or the life mission itself.
2. Rite of Adulthood – this is the second major African initiation rite and considered to be a
popular among rites nowadays under set of rites. Most of the people tend to perceived
that rite of passage only refers to initiation into adulthood without being aware that rite of
adulthood is just a part of the larger system or rites. These rites are usually done at the
onset puberty age (12-13 y.o) and they are to ensure the shaping of productive,
community-oriented responsible adults.
3. Rite of Marriage – this is the third major initiation rite and it represents not only the
joining of two families but also joining of the two missions of the new couple. In other
words, the marriage rites are performed for not only the coming together of male and
females to procreate and perpetuate life and the coming together of families, it is also an
institution that helps both the husband and wife to best fulfill their mission and objectives
in life. A person is not generally considered an adult until they have married and had
children.
4. Rite of Eldership - it is the fourth major initiation rite and an important component of the
initiation system because it is the elders who represent tradition and the wisdom of the
past.
5. Rite of Ancestorship – this is the last major initiation rite, which concerns passing over
into the spirit world This final initiation rite is an extension of the elder/older distinction
because the status that a person has in life is the same status that they bring with them
when they pass on. There is virtually no African society that believes that when a person
dies this ends all ties and communication with the living.

RITUALS
 It is symbolic, routine and repetitive. (in African Cosmology)
 A ritual is a prescribed method for performing a religious ceremony.
 Rituals range from simple gestures such as bowing or shaking hands, to elaborate
ceremonial dramas, such as the coronation of the traditional chief, modern chief etc.
 Ritual is symbolic in the most profound sense, for it brings together the mind, the body
and the emotions and at the same time, binds us to a community of shared values.
  Ritual actions enable us to maintain continuity with significant persons and events from
the past. In the African cosmology families build shrines on the burial sites of those
considered to be Ancestors, deceased prominent members of the family or community, to
honour their spirits and to seek their favour in the ongoing life of the community.
 Ritual is primordial and universal because:
 It appeals to the whole person.
 Weaving together bodily gesture, speech, and the sense- the sight of colours and
shapes
 The sounds of chants or mantras
 The tactile feel of water and fabric,
 And the smell of incense or the aroma of symbol foods
Through its appeal to boldly movement
 Verbal chants and responses,
 And our multiple senses.

Example:
Sacrifice, this is their way of purifying the community or a specific individual through
rituals. the most common sacrifices are rites of passage, which are rituals performed at
important moments of transition in a person's life.

The Courtship dance of the woodabe during Guérewol. Guérewol is an annual

ritual
and competition that sees young men dress up in elaborate ornamentation and
traditional
face paint and gather in lines to dance and sing, their goal is to get the attention of one
of the judges - a marriageable young woman.

The Lip Plates of the Mursi, it is a norm for women to wear large pottery or wooden
plates in their lower lips. When they reach an age 15-16, their lower lip is cut by her
mother or another older woman in the settlement. This would take 3 months to heal,
however this practice is completely a totally personal choice.
 The Spitting of the Maasai, people of Kenya and Northern Tanzania view spitting
as
a form of blessing and a sign of respect. Tribespeople use spitting to greet or say
goodbye to friends, clinch a bargain or to wish someone good luck. Two friends
greeting each other will spit in their palms before shaking hands. When a baby is
born,
family members will spit on the child to wish him or her a long life and good luck.
Spitting is also customary on a daughter’s wedding day, where her father will spit on
her forehead to wish her a blessed union.

The Healing Dance of the San, For the San people of South Africa, Namibia,
Botswana and Angola, dance is considered a sacred power. One of their most integral
tribal traditions is the trance dance (also known as the healing dance). The whole
community comes together around a fire for several hours or even an entire night, led
by healers and elders. The healers dance around the fire, chant and hyperventilate
until
they induce a powerful trance-like state. In this state, they are granted access to the
spirit world (and are often able to walk over fire). The San healers aren’t just doing
this to cure physical illnesses in their community – they also attempt
to expel what they call “star sickness”, a force that causes jealousy, anger and
arguments.

Additional Example for Rituals

African rituals are conducted in different circumstances, and to mark different events.
Over time, some of these rituals have been considered dangerous because of the harm- physical
and mental- it inflicts on the participants during the process and throughout their lives.
Practices such as Female genital mutilation, virginity testing and wife inheritance are just
some of the dangerous and harmful customs still undertaken today.
Focus on such harmful practices has made it seem like Africa does not have rituals that promote
positive living.

1. Incwala
This is the kingship ritual in eSwatini, and is known as one of the biggest festivals in the country.
Happening over a period of a month, Incwala comprises a few activities that mark the age-old
tradition that is centred on the monarch. Without a king, there would be no Incwala.
The event is conducted by the national priests called Bemanti (people of the water), or
Belwandle (people of the sea) as it is their duty to fetch water from the sea to strengthen the king.
Other participants include the King’s blood-brothers.
2. The Luma
The Baka community in Cameroon and Gabon have a ritual known as the Luma. This ritual
marks the end of a successful hunt. For this community living in the Central African forest,
hunting and gathering are their main economic activity and thus a successful hunt was
celebrated.
The Baka believes that the forest spirit only shows itself when the community is in harmony and
thus they hold the Luma to invoke its presence.
3. Empaako
This is a naming ritual practised by the Batooro, Banyoro, Batuku, Batagwenda and Banyabindi
in Uganda, where children are given a pet name. The names are selected from a set of twelve
names shared across the communities. The giving of empaako not only shows love and
endearment but as a sign of respect. It is also for salutation and used by children to refer to their
parents and elders. It can also be used in diffusing tension and reconciliation in conflict.
During the naming ceremony, the child is received by the paternal aunts and examined. Any
similarity with existing relatives will influence the choice of empaako. Once it is decided, the
clan head declares the name and a ceremony involving sharing meal of millet and smoked beef
and presentation of gifts follows. A tree in honour of the child is also planted.

4. The Rain Ritual

The Kalanga tribe of Zimbabwe and Botswana have a traditional dance specifically conducted
for rainmaking. The ritual usually conducted in August comes with two dances: the hoso and the
hosana, which feature heavy use of drums

5. The Ikahi ritual

In the Makua tribe of Mozambique, pregnancy is considered sacred and a pregnant couple needs
to attend a vital ritual called the Ikahi. This is a ritual conducted to teach the expectant couple
how to protect the pregnancy and the ethics to follow until the baby is born.
Only women and the pregnant woman’s husband are allowed in the Ikahi ritual. The couple gets
‘briefings’ on how to conduct themselves throughout the pregnancy and what to expect during
delivery. While briefings also come with a number of restrictions including that the couple
should not have an affair, that the woman should not attend funerals and that the husband should
not dig graves in the duration of the pregnancy.

References
Kyalo, Paul. 2013. Initiation Rites and Rituals in African Cosmology. Retrieved on July 7, 2020
from http://ijptnet.com/journals/ijpt/Vol_1_No_1_June_2013/abstract-4.html#tabs-1