Witchcraft, Exorcism, Shamanism: the Most Extreme Rituals in the World
Best Documentary・14 minutes read
Various rituals and ceremonies involving potions, magic, and traditional remedies are used to protect against evil spirits, heal ailments, and honor the dead in African cultures; showcasing a mix of superstition, spirituality, and cultural traditions. These practices include expelling dark magic, utilizing protective potions, symbolic animal rituals, painful rituals like wearing metal rings, and unique coffins tailored to professions, highlighting the rich diversity and beliefs of African communities.
Insights
- Fernand Yodé, a prophet, not only claims to expel dark magic but also deceives his followers by stealing money from them, accumulating a substantial amount in Gabon, showcasing a darker side to his supposed healing abilities.
- The cultural practices surrounding healing and death in the village involve intricate rituals, such as protective potions, symbolic ceremonies, and personalized coffins, emphasizing the deep-rooted traditions and beliefs that shape the community's approach to spirituality, health, and honoring the deceased.
Get key ideas from YouTube videos. It’s free
Recent questions
How do healers in Gabon protect against evil spirits?
Healers in Gabon use protective potions and magic decoctions to expel evil spirits and heal various ailments. These potions induce vomiting and a hypnotic state, believed to remove negativity. Animals are also symbolically involved in the process to help cleanse the individual of dark forces.
Who is Fernand Yodé and what does he claim to do?
Fernand Yodé is a prophet who claims to expel dark magic from possessed individuals. He has gained notoriety for his ability to rid people of evil spells and curses. However, he has also been accused of stealing money from his followers, collecting a significant sum of €3,000 in Gabon.
What traditional remedy is used to reunite a couple?
A healer uses a plant-based remedy to reunite a couple, showcasing the power of traditional remedies in resolving relationship issues. This natural approach highlights the cultural significance of herbal treatments in addressing emotional and interpersonal challenges.
What is the fading tradition of giraffe women?
The tradition of giraffe women involves wearing metal rings around the neck, wrists, and ankles, with only a few hundred individuals still practicing this custom. Mae, one of the remaining giraffe women, takes pride in her rings, despite the fading popularity of this tradition.
How are the dead honored in the village?
In the village, the dead are honored with unique coffins tailored to their professions or interests. Crafted by skilled carpenters like Johnson, these coffins can take various shapes, such as a palm tree for a palm oil producer or a sewing machine for a tailor. This personalized approach reflects the community's respect for the deceased and their individuality, even in death.
Related videos
PBS Voices
Uncovering the Power of Hoodoo: An Ancestral Journey
El Heraldo de México
¿Sabes qué es la santería y cuántos tipos de brujería hay? Mhoni Vidente te dice cómo PROTEGERTE
Harvard Divinity School
Black Magic Matters: Hoodoo as Ancestral Religion
The Witch Of Wonderlust
Protection Magick
Yathish Dhavala
The Big Story: Origins of Religion
Summary
00:00
"Magic potions and rituals in Africa"
- A potion is used to protect against an axe, with the promise of witchcraft falling tonight.
- A prophet named Fernand Yodé claims to expel dark magic from possessed individuals.
- The prophet also steals money from his followers, collecting €3,000 in Gabon.
- A sorcerer treats a man believed to be under an evil spell, using a protective potion.
- A ceremony involving a magic decoction is used to heal various ailments, inducing vomiting and a hypnotic state.
- The potion is believed to expel evil spirits, with animals symbolically removing negativity.
- A healer uses a plant to reunite a couple, showcasing the power of traditional remedies.
- A woman undergoes a painful ritual of wearing metal rings around her neck, wrists, and ankles.
- The tradition of giraffe women is fading, with only a few hundred remaining, including Mae who is proud of her rings.
- King Imwiko II performs a ceremonial exodus on the Zambezi River, selecting skilled paddlers for his royal boat.
31:06
Custom Coffins Reflect Village's Unique Traditions
- The dead in the village are honored with unique coffins tailored to their professions or interests, such as a palm tree-shaped coffin for a palm oil producer and a sewing machine-shaped one for a tailor, all crafted by carpenters like Johnson on demand.
- The journey of a deceased cocoa farmer, who tragically lost his life in a car accident, is recounted, highlighting the family's custom of securing the coffin tightly due to the rough road to the village and the financial responsibility placed on the brother of the deceased for the funeral expenses, including food, amidst the somber yet celebratory procession to the final resting place.
