Anyone have any more / better sources on the Jola tribe? Especially the part where them a CUT themselves with Machette and never bleed?? Them try cut Rasta in the Youtube clip below. Anyway, AFRICAN tradition is a joy more time. The connection with the Irits is plain to see. I wonder if it was the same science / spirit that Peter Tosh was into when him return from Africa claiming no knife or bullet can pierce his skin.
An unprecedented number of people from within and outside the country Tuesday turned out in their thousands to witness the Jola cultural extravaganza known as 'Futampaf', which is an "initiation to manhood and rites of passage".
The ceremony was held in the cultural epicenter village of Kanilai, the birthplace of the Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh. This special Jola initiation ceremony is a prominent item in the programme of activities of the International Roots Home Coming Festival; a biennial event designed among other things to encourage peoples of African descent in the Diaspora to discover, reconnect and embrace their ancestral identity, whilst showcasing Africa's rich cultural heritage.
Hosted and financed entirely by the Gambian leader as part of the ongoing festival, the "Futampaf" ritual has been described as the oldest African cultural and traditional school of teaching, and according to research, has existed at least since the 12th Century in that before colonisation, it was the only method of formal education in preparing young men to take their place in society.
The 2011 'Futampaf' provided a good opportunity for the home-comers to taste and experience the uniqueness of this ritual. An impressive number of 38 initiates, 19 male and 19 female took part in the initiation. Among the initiates who have now been formerly adopted into the Jola family with new African names are the Jamaican reggae star, Luciano, and other musicians like Mikey General, also from Jamaica, and Skibbo amongst other home-comers from the United States and Europe.
Presidential arrival
The man keeping this ritual alive, President Jammeh arrived around 2pm at the heart of Kanilai where the ceremony started amidst a tumultuous welcome by the massive crowd that included the the First Lady, Her Excellency Madam Zeinab Yahya Jammeh, the vice president and minister of Women's Affairs, Her Excellency Aja Dr Isatou Njie-saidy; the speaker of the National Assembly, Honourable Abdoulie Bojang; the chief justice, Emmanuel Agim; ministers,managing directors foreign resident diplomats, home-comers, cultural and traditional personalities and custodians, and a cross-section of culture loving people.
Soon as the Gambian leader disembarked from the presidential vehicle, excitement and dusts filled the air when the spectators saw President Jammeh dressed in attractive African traditional woven attire; a move that did not only symbolise authority of the event but also demonstrated his love for African culture. At this moment, the event was characterised by thundering explosions of cannons around the area, which apparently, was meant to keep at bay evils that normally come closer in such events; as well as ferocious drumming that moved the Gambian leader and other traditional elders to start dancing the traditional Jola way, much to the elation of the spectators who cheered all through.
Ebujeyi Surumbasu
The day proceeded with the first stage of the initiation known as 'Ebujeyi Surumbasu'. Here, before the would-be initiates were seated on a red carpet, the Gambian leader poured water on each of their hands for them to rob on their faces, apparently to protect them from evil spirits. This process, which involved series of steps, is in a nutshell the sacrificial slaughtering of chicken to foretell the future and protect the initiates from evil spirits and at the same time seeking the blessings of the ancestors before going through the rites of passage.
Asafeyet Ubarrawu
The next stage was 'Asafeyet Ubarawu'. Here the female initiates were taken to a separate place while the male initiates were taken round a big cotton silk tree [sacred tree]. There the elders of the community took the initiates round during which some cultural aspects were shown to them. It was not only that that happened at this place, as the initiates were also dressed in white outfit before heading to the bush, traditionally called "Jujuwo".
Karengaku [Bush School]
After that aspect of the ceremony, the initiates and their escorts, who are locally called "chintangolu" a Jola parlance meaning those who have been already initiated exclusively, entered the initiation school "Jujuwo" for the rites of passage to manhood. This is where a lot of things were taught to them. This process was also punctuated by intense drumming and dancing by not only the "chintangolu" but also masquerades who display their wealth of skills and talents. In fact it was observed that five red masquerades were in the midst of the "chintangolu" dancing, screaming and singing watched by the Gambian leader.
Kabomenaku
This was the final stage, and entails the dressing and dancing of the initiates. After emerging from the bush, the initiates who are now called "Kulambeoku" [already initiated] were trained to perform a complicated dance called "Jibomaje Chingeh." They gathered at the Festival Grounds Square in Kanilai to display their dancing skills. These initiates, who had experienced this for the first time in their life, fascinated the crowd when they managed to showcase this complicated dance amidst clapping from all corners of the square. Each of the initiates danced from where they were seated to the VIP pavilion where dignitaries were seated to shake hands with the Gambian leader, who also gave them pieces of clothing. The 2011 "Futampaf" wrapped-up after the initiates were given new African traditional names after which they returned to their hotel.
Interviews
Speaking earlier during a very short interview with journalists in the thick of the initiation, the President jammeh underscored true African culture and stressed that it has nothing to do with "human sacrifice, cannibalism or witchcraft" as portrayed by the "white man" He said: "An African has to be an African in the first place because Africa also is constituted by tribes – once you are an African then you belong to a tribe – and the tribe defines your culture. Every different part of Africa has different cultural values and norms – and these are defined by traditions, the culture and so on."
Initiates appreciation of African culture
The Daily Observer also managed to sample the views of some of the initiates who are experiencing such an African traditional rite for the first time, something that has become very famous. They all appreciated this particular culture and African culture in general, while commending the Pan-Africanist stance of President Jammeh.
The first initiate to speak to the Daily Observer was the Jamaican reggae superstar, Luciano aka Messenger. He said: "I have been coming to Africa and this is my first time that I got initiated which means a lot to me. I have always read about this [initiation]; about the great kings being initiated. I think it is very important that a messenger who has been singing about Africa should get this chance to be reconnected to my real roots. I feel very inspired and my spirit is very high and this is a very memorable experience for me. I saw something that I will never forget as long as I live. I want to thank the president so much because he really stands to see that peoples' roots connected." Luciano, who also called on other leaders to take a cue from President Jammeh's Pan-Africanist spirit, commended all those stakeholders for their inputs in making the day a very memorable one.
Also speaking to this reporter, Waka Jagne, a Gambian based in the UK, working with the BEN TV, who was also initiated, expressed his appreciation for the initiative. "It was so good and it makes you proud to be an African – this culture is so rich. I have to thank the president, as culture is so important. If All African presidents were like our president Africa would have been the richest continent in this world," he said. "The first time I am seeing something like this is so cultural and is very great to be part of this. So I just want to thank everybody who plays a part in it. It is a very great experience," Mikey General, a Jamaican artist also noted, while adding that such an event will further give chance to others who did not experience it to be connected to their roots.
The female initiates also shared their experience with the Daily Observer. We caught up with, N'dieye Danavall, a home-comer from Atlanta, Georgia in the United States, who was initiated and given the name of Mariama. She lauded Gambian hospitality, saying she felt embraced by not only the president but the entire nation. "I have seen a lot and when I go back I will share what I have seen so that more people can come and visit The Gambia. "I feel that I have now become a member of my family and I have sisters, brothers, uncles and so on in The Gambia and whenever I come back, I have a place to call home. It is just a great experience."
Danavall went on to commend the efforts of President Jammeh in trying to reconnect Africans and people of African descent in the Diaspora. While acknowledging that the Gambian leader is doing a great job, she stressed the need for other leaders to emulate his initiative to connect Western civilization with the African roots, because as she puts it, everything started here. She
Another initiate, Ida Sirra Njie, a Gambian-born US citizen based in Wichita, Kansas in the US who is visiting the country of her birth for the first time in 27 years, said wherever one goes to, someday that person would come back. She then disclosed that she is on the verge of setting up a foundation in The Gambia to assist needy children.
Author: by Hatab Fadera
Following the cultural forest most of us went to a Jola Initiation Ceremony a little bit past the town of Bwiam. It was Alieu’s cousin brother who invited us to this ceremony because his village is next to the village where the ceremony took place. We go our own transportation and they waited for us the entire time we were there, to take us back when we were ready to go. When we got there, there were so many people who had their own little “markets” set up. People were selling clothes, food jewelry. As soon as we arrived we walked through these market areas, because that is where the entrance was. Following that, we had to get introduced to the Alkalo (head of the village). He could not speak English, so Alieu’s cousin brother translated for us. Basically, the Alkalo welcomed us to his village and said it was an honor for us to be there because they don’t get “toubabs” very often. In addition, he said that everyone in his village would treat us with respect because we are human beings, no matter our skin color, we are one people. He hoped that we would gain a better understanding of the Jola culture by attending the ceremony.
When we left the Alkalo’s house, everyone in the village was eating, so we all waited around, exploring the village. Once people finished eating, hours of Juju presentations began. We saw boys, ranging from the ages of 2-30 who were lined up single file. They were headed to the bush. They remain in the bush for about a week. The only people that can come near the area of the bush that the boys are in, is the person who will deliver food. Otherwise, there is a man in a costume (juju) who sits on top of the highest tree and he is the guard. He is dressed up in a sort of costume and he is supposed to keep guard around the bush. It is here where the young boys will become circumcised (although now, most boys will get this done in the hospital). Otherwise they learn how to respect elders and how to treat women. After a week in the bush learning all of these things, they come back to their homes. After the boys are sent to the bush, there are other Juju men who swing machetes and knives around and run after the women to chase them away. If women don’t run, then it is believed that the evil spirits will catch on to them. We did not know this right away, so we got caught in a few stampedes.
The rest of the initiation ceremony consisted of the presentation of the jujus. The village will spend at least ten years collecting funds for the initiation. And the juju men will stand/parade around to show off their extravagant culture. It is basically for men to demonstrate how amazing their culture is and how powerful their religion is. Although the majority of Gambians are Muslim, there is a small Christian population, as well as an indigenous belief’s population. The initiation ceremony and the jujus is part of the indigenous beliefs population. Some Gambians are not in support of the jujus because it conflicts with their Islamic faith, however, this village was not only accepting of the jujus but was willingly to put their beliefs on display. The jujus are still something I can not understand, and I am not sure I ever will. It is something you have to see to believe. But while I was at this Jola Initiation ceremony,
I saw (for hours), men cut themselves with knives and shoot guns into their mouths, and nothing happened to them. I even witnessed one of the men put his jujus (in necklace form) on a little boy who was no more than two years old, and they cut him with the knife and nothing happened to him.
Another part of the ceremony that was interesting is that there were at least 8 of us students, who of course are white. It was hard for us to all stay together, but we wanted to stay together because there were so many people there. In the beginning of the day, Gambian children latched onto us and when they saw the other students moving forward in the crowds, they would pull us so we did not get lost. They also would push people out of the way if they got too close to us and stepped on our feet. It was amazing how young girls held my hand all day, did not speak to me because they could not speak English, and the girls that were with me did not speak wolof because they were from the rural region and were of the rare seere (did not spell this right) tribe, which is a minority tribe in the Gambia but a very popular one once you get to Senegal or Mauritania. However, they managed to laugh and smile with me, protected me, and made sure I got a good view of the events. Gambian kindness at it’s best. Always an angel watching over me here, I swear.
When we reached back to Old Jeshwang it was around 11pm and I was half asleep. In the car ride I would wake up every so often but could never make out where I was. I was kind of delusional and a bit dehydrated by then. When I got back, all I wanted to do was go to sleep. But I felt disgusting so I could not go in my bed right away. So I took a shower. Usually when I take a shower, I use half a bucket of water. But after coming back from the initiation ceremony, I used one full bucket and a half. Just rinsing myself off I had brown water pouring off of me. Mmm…that red sand.
Messenger: Black Christ Salvation
Sent:
5/20/2014 12:29:01 PM
This is very intresting, Afrika have many secret mysteries and secret Powers.
Messenger: VoodooRuutz
Sent:
5/20/2014 7:53:59 PM
Yes I, I personally would like to go tru at least one African initiation, Check out the "Sacred Crocodiles of Paga"
Messenger: Black heart
Sent:
5/21/2014 1:52:40 PM
Bro VoodooRuuts. Trust mi, yu are better off without any initiation as a Rasta. Offcorse some of dis African ceremonies are innocent n good but sume deal with some form of evil. As a Rasta (especially vegetarian) stay away from ceremonies where blood secrifice is involved. Dis is not ment to look down pon our own African cultures but its meant to protect yu as a Rasta on any evil dat may be invoved. Just stay away from any animal scrifice ritual unless its a desparate illness situation.
Messenger: Black heart
Sent:
5/21/2014 2:27:54 PM
Ina Africa deh's some powerfull medicine men n women who can perform amazing things such as making a person have a goat cry from de inside of his belly. However I regreat to tell yu black brothers n sistas abroad dat some of de healers here ina Africa deal with pure satanism (perform human blood drinking rituals, make people kill others for human parts to be used for some of de powers, make people rape babies thinkin dem will be cured from HIV e.t.c). So becareful Rasta, always try to stay Holy.
Messenger: VoodooRuutz
Sent:
5/21/2014 4:18:29 PM
I don't deal in blood sacrifice if all do then guess I won't b, I satan ain real to I, Africans binna deal in dem thing neh waay fo any satan or satanism come yah, I gree wit d I tho not a thing I wud call good but I don't kno satan. Mayb a special drumming libation prayer ceremony but no blood thing fa I, some food offerings prolly no blood tho
Give thanks tho Iyah
Messenger: Black heart
Sent:
5/21/2014 4:56:02 PM
If yu call yoself Satan, then I'm confused. When I talk about satanism I mean high evil like de use of human blood n parts. People are killed for deir blood n parts which is believed provide de powers to de evil doers. I man talk about what takes place ina Africa. Black people killin one another for evil powers
Messenger: Black heart
Sent:
5/21/2014 4:57:10 PM
If yu call yoself Satan, then I'm confused. When I talk about satanism I mean high evil like de use of human blood n parts. People are killed for deir blood n parts which is believed provide de powers to de evil doers. I man talk about what takes place ina Africa. Black people killin fellow black people for evil powers.
Messenger: VoodooRuutz
Sent:
5/21/2014 7:07:41 PM
No Iyah lol, I ain call me satan, I mean satan is non existant to I! Yes I, can't deal in dem thing neh no. Jus to I, callin African practices "satanism" be it "evil" or what sound to Babylon like for I, specially since some a dem things prolly date to times before Judaic/Christian thought. But d I wud kno first hand what go on deh in Africa if d I don't mind I askin, what part d I deh in Africa
