The Tabernanthe Iboga shrub is included in the religious movement for the revival of African tribes - Bwiti, the beginning of which can be attributed to the end of the last century. This movement came into full force sometime during the First World War (Fernandez 1972). The Bwiti religion is widespread in Gabon, Cameroon, Congo and Zaire. The cult is secret due to active persecution by the Catholic mission. According to the Bwiti religion, the psychoactive plant Iboga was discovered by pygmies deep in the jungle.
They later passed on their knowledge to the Apindji and Mitsogho tribes, who were the first to practice rituals. And thus the religion began to spread throughout southern Gabon. Initially, the practice of Bwiti included human sacrifice and ritual cannibalism. But soon this practice was abolished and young chickens were sacrificed. To be sure, accusations of criminal witchcraft and so-called devilish illusions generated by T.iboga have always been a part of Bwiti's history. In the period from 1920 to 1940, the persecution of the cult was especially active. Temples were burned, priests were killed, but the cult did not disappear.
The cycle of rituals of the Bwiti cult is based on a religious calendar similar to the Catholic one. All rituals are performed exclusively at night and are associated with the use of the hallucinogenic plant T.iboga. Ceremonies are held from Saturday to Sunday, Christmas and Easter.
The ritual is also possible if a new cult member is initiated. In this case, he is offered to consume a large dose of Iboga, which differs from the traditional norm. This leads to the fact that the initiate falls into a trance and his consciousness is transferred to the mystical worlds in which he receives initiation from the Gods. The initiation ritual begins with a confession of his sins. In the case of hiding sins or lies, the mystical journey may not take place. And if the candidate for initiation hid the murder of a person, then Iboga will punish him with a painful death. The initiation ceremony is quite long and can take about three days, during which the student gradually uses parts of the Iboga root. All this time he lies on the floor in the temple and is looked after by the ritual "father" and "mother". In addition to the "parents", there are other community members present,they will accompany their future brother on his long journey. During these nights, any of the participants can also consume iboga. The beginner's consciousness undergoes intense changes, becoming more detached from the surrounding reality. Typically, during the third night, one of the participants must painfully affect the student's body to ensure that it is disconnected from the outside world. If he does not respond, it is implied that he is undergoing the climax of the experience. This moment is a dialogue of the initiate with God. During the visions, the novice overcomes long journeys to the land of the dead, who serve as intermediaries with a divine beginning. He may also encounter his ancestors or other people known to him. Hallucinationsthose accompanying the student during the journey are full of deep symbolic meaning; the jungle world with its trees, plants, and animals acts as an experimental and imaginative basis for visions. A sacred entity that meets during the journey must inform the student of his new, consecrated name. After three days of the ritual, one of the participants should help the student wake up. There are cases when a student dies during a ritual, according to the priest, this indicates bad thoughts and not washed away sins of the subject before the mystical journey. After initiation, the student is called bungee. Iboga baptism, as well as Catholic baptism, can take place at any age.who meets during the journey must inform the student of his new, dedicated name. After three days of the ritual, one of the participants should help the student to wake up. There are cases when a student dies during a ritual, according to the priest, this indicates bad thoughts and not washed away sins of the subject before the mystical journey. After initiation, the student is called bungee. Iboga baptism, as well as Catholic baptism, can take place at any age.who meets during the journey must inform the student of his new, dedicated name. After three days of the ritual, one of the participants should help the student to wake up. There are cases when a student dies during a ritual, according to the priest, this indicates bad thoughts and not washed away sins of the subject before the mystical journey. After initiation, the student is called bungee. Iboga baptism, as well as Catholic baptism, can take place at any age. Iboga baptism, as well as Catholic baptism, can take place at any age. Iboga baptism, as well as Catholic baptism, can take place at any age.
Also, one of the most important ceremonies of the Bwiti cult is ngozi or night rituals aimed at stimulating religious fervor and uniting the participants in the cult. The ceremony begins at approximately 8 am and is followed by the use of Iboga while kneeling. The priest of the cult presents a spoonful of Iboga roots to each participant. As in the case of the Christian sacrament, you must not touch the hallucinogen. Water can be used to make it easier to consume dry roots. The dose of the plant is individual for each participant. The priests of Bwiti are careful about dosing the hallucinogen, because if a large dose is consumed, a person can lose orientation in the world around him or die. Participants of the ritual wear colorful clothes and paint their faces with white clay. During the night they dance and sing. The dances follow precise choreographic patterns. From time to time they rest, drink and laugh. The various cycles of music and dance contain symbolic and precise meanings associated with the Bwiti mythology. During the evening ceremony, there are two phases: the first lasts from sunset to midnight and is characterized by motives illustrating the creation of the world and the birth of Adam and Christ. The second phase lasts from midnight to dawn, and is carried out under the influence of the images of death and destruction, the death of Christ, the expulsion from Paradise and the Flood. The second phase lasts from midnight to dawn, and is carried out under the influence of images of death and destruction, the death of Christ, expulsion from Paradise and the Flood. The second phase lasts from midnight to dawn, and is carried out under the influence of images of death and destruction, the death of Christ, expulsion from Paradise and the Flood.
The Bwiti mythology consists primarily of a complex theogony and mythology dealing with the origin of the Iboga plant. Despite its traditional basis, mythology undergoes many changes among sects and diverse ethnic groups. The Bwiti have no written texts to spread their beliefs, with the exception of some "catechisms" which are quite difficult to read. In many ways, Bwiti's religious canons are similar to the Christian concept. The Iboga plant is analogous to the biblical tree of knowledge.
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The legend of Iboga's origins, known to Bwiti as "The Story of al Mum": Bandzioku of the Pygmy tribe lost her husband while picking fruit in the forest. He fell from a tree and crashed, but his body could not be found. The grief-stricken wife returned to the village and, according to tribal law, married the husband's brother. She later went fishing and set up nets to catch her. After checking the nets, she found human bones in them that belonged to her first husband. She carried the bones ashore. Suddenly an animal appeared, picked up the bones and headed deeper into the jungle. The woman followed the animal until she was near the Kakonangonda cave. From the cave came the voices of spirits - Bandzioku, do you want to see us? Yes, - answered the woman. Then the spirits fed her with the root of a plant growing in the corner of the cave … It was Iboga. After tasting the root of Iboga, she saw the souls of the dead, including her first husband. Before returning to the village, the spirits took from her a promise of a periodic offering for them. The next day she collected food and took it to the spirits. She did this for several days. But her husband noticed his wife's frequent departures and decided to follow her. The next time she brought offerings to the cave, the spirits screamed furiously - “Muma, Muma!” (Which indicated that there was an uninitiated nearby). She began to convince the spirits that came alone, but turning around saw her husband behind the tree. The husband approached her and asked who she was talking to. Then the woman gave him Iboga root to taste. And the husband also began to see spirits, including his dead brother. Since then, the man took the plant from the cave and created the cult of Bwiti, which is based on the worship of the plant Iboga.including her first husband. Before returning to the village, the spirits made her promise of a periodic offering for them. The next day, she collected food and took it to the spirits. She did this for several days. But her husband noticed his wife's frequent departures and decided to follow her. The next time she brought offerings to the cave, the spirits screamed furiously - "Muma, Muma!" (Which indicated that there was an uninitiated nearby). She began to convince the spirits that came alone, but turning around saw her husband behind the tree. The husband approached her and asked who she was talking to. Then the woman gave him Iboga root to taste. And the husband also began to see spirits, including his dead brother. Since then, the man took the plant from the cave and created the cult of Bwiti, which is based on the worship of the plant Iboga.including her first husband. Before returning to the village, the spirits made her promise of a periodic offering for them. The next day, she collected food and took it to the spirits. She did this for several days. But her husband noticed his wife's frequent departures and decided to follow her. The next time she brought offerings to the cave, the spirits screamed furiously - “Muma, Muma!” (Which indicated that there was an uninitiated nearby). She began to convince the spirits that came alone, but turning around saw her husband behind the tree. The husband approached her and asked who she was talking to. Then the woman gave him Iboga root to taste. And the husband also began to see spirits, including his dead brother. Since then, the man took the plant from the cave and created the cult of Bwiti, which is based on the worship of the plant Iboga. Before returning to the village, the spirits took from her a promise of a periodic offering for them. The next day she collected food and took it to the spirits. She did this for several days. But her husband noticed his wife's frequent departures and decided to follow her. The next time she brought offerings to the cave, the spirits screamed furiously - “Muma, Muma!” (Which indicated that there was an uninitiated nearby). She began to convince the spirits that came alone, but turning around saw her husband behind the tree. The husband approached her and asked who she was talking to. Then the woman gave him Iboga root to taste. And the husband also began to see spirits, including his dead brother. Since then, the man took the plant from the cave and created the cult of Bwiti, which is based on the worship of the plant Iboga. Before returning to the village, the spirits made her promise of a periodic offering for them. The next day, she collected food and took it to the spirits. She did this for several days. But her husband noticed his wife's frequent departures and decided to follow her. The next time she brought offerings to the cave, the spirits screamed furiously - "Muma, Muma!" (Which indicated that there was an uninitiated nearby). She began to convince the spirits that came alone, but turning around saw her husband behind the tree. The husband approached her and asked who she was talking to. Then the woman gave him Iboga root to taste. And the husband also began to see spirits, including his dead brother. Since then, the man took the plant from the cave and created the cult of Bwiti, which is based on the worship of the plant Iboga. The next day, she collected food and took it to the spirits. She did this for several days. But her husband noticed his wife's frequent departures and decided to follow her. The next time she brought offerings to the cave, the spirits screamed furiously - "Muma, Muma!" (Which indicated that there was an uninitiated nearby). She began to convince the spirits that came alone, but turning around saw her husband behind the tree. The husband approached her and asked who she was talking to. Then the woman gave him Iboga root to taste. And the husband also began to see spirits, including his dead brother. Since then, the man took the plant from the cave and created the cult of Bwiti, which is based on the worship of the plant Iboga. The next day, she collected food and took it to the spirits. She did this for several days. But her husband noticed his wife's frequent departures and decided to follow her. The next time she brought offerings to the cave, the spirits screamed furiously - "Muma, Muma!" (Which indicated that there was an uninitiated nearby). She began to convince the spirits that came alone, but turning around saw her husband behind the tree. The husband approached her and asked who she was talking to. Then the woman gave him Iboga root to taste. And the husband also began to see spirits, including his dead brother. Since then, the man took the plant from the cave and created the cult of Bwiti, which is based on the worship of the plant Iboga.the spirits screamed furiously - "Muma, Muma!" (which indicated that there was an uninitiated nearby). She began to convince the spirits that she had come alone, but turning around she saw her husband behind the tree. The husband approached her and asked who she was talking to. Then the woman gave him Iboga root to taste. And the husband also began to see spirits, including his dead brother. Since then, the man took the plant from the cave and created the cult of Bwiti, which is based on the worship of the plant Iboga.the spirits shouted furiously - "Muma, Muma!" The husband approached her and asked who she was talking to. Then the woman gave him Iboga root to taste. And the husband also began to see spirits, including his dead brother. Since then, the man took the plant from the cave and created the cult of Bwiti, which is based on the worship of the plant Iboga.which is based on the worship of the plant Iboga.which is based on the worship of the plant Iboga.
Currently, there are organizations that try to unite the sects of the Bwiti cult. Their main goal is to gain recognition from the Government of Gabon, which would place Bwiti on the level of Christianity and Islam. One of the leaders, Ouono Dibengi Louis Mary, has created the Iboga Youth Movement over the past few years so that new generations can centrally familiarize themselves with the religious concept of Bwiti.