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The
notion of the secret society
is certainly nothing new
in the annals of history.
In fact secret societies
are among the oldest of
mankind's institutions.
They exist on every continent
and among many different
peoples. As we are speaking
of Black fraternities and
sororities, this focus shall
be upon the African secret
society. African secret
societies were and still
are common. They were an
integral part of society
and permeated nearly every
aspect of African life.
These societies were so
important because they served
several important functions.
The first purpose of the
secret society was its ritual
of adulthood, or "rites
of passage" as it is
often called. Young boys
and girls were separated
from family and society
and placed with their peers
often in a gender-orientated
manner. In the guidance
of teachers, these youngsters
would endure challenges
of the mind by learning
and memorizing new information.
They were also made to endure
challenges of the body.
The purpose of this physical
duress was to show steadfastness
and most importantly the
philosophy of mind over
matter. These physical and
mental tests helped to build
bonds of trust between not
only the initiates but with
their teachers as well.
Once these rites are completed,
the initiates can enter
society as adults. They
can now wear certain clothing
and symbols. They can now
adorn their bodies in manners
forbidden to them before
(scarification, face painting,
etc.) In many societies
it was common for the initiates
to be taught secret ceremonial
dances as well as secret
words, handshakes and signals
particular to whatever group
they would now belong. In
this manner young boys and
girls become men and women
and thus functioning members
of society. Pictured above
is a depiction of an African
initiation ceremony.
The second purpose of the
secret society was its association
with castes (not to be confused
with the hierarchal social
castes of India). In many
African societies one is
born into a caste that will
mark one for life. Or one
may become part of a caste
when one chooses one's career
path in life. In many societies
African professions each
had a caste. Blacksmith,
iron smelter, farmer and
warrior all belonged to
a certain caste as did most
other professions. Many
castes functioned as apprenticeships.
Once one became a member
of the caste through initiation,
one could be taught the
secrets of the craft be
it warfare or woodcarving.
An example of this can be
seen among the Dogon of
Mali who even had a powerful
funeral society for their
"morticians."
An important feature of
these castes was that though
they were different, they
all worked together for
the good of the society.
Pictured above is the headdress
of the antelope-human Chiwara
of the Bambara: the mythical
being who teaches farmers
their secret agricultural
skills.
The third purpose of the
secret society was what
can be called the "sacred
society." This function
of the society was the spiritual
nature, already apparent
in both the first and secondary
functions of the secret
society, taken to its highest
level. While both the rites
of passage and caste societies
are spiritual in nature,
it is the sacred society,
which focuses on the upliftment
of the soul. In this sense
one can see the deities
often associated with the
castes. Most African masks
were very spiritual in nature
and could be worn only by
a duly initiated religious
figure. And in order for
anyone to become a religious
figure, the highest form
of ritual and secret initiation
was performed. Pictured
above is a Babaloawo, the
diviner among the Yoruba
who holds a high and sacred
place in society.
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Written by Bro. Griot.
Copyright 1998. All rights
reserved. Except as provided
under U.S. copyright law,
all written information
may not be reproduced,
resold, distributed or
modified without the express
permission the author.
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