Fr. Martin ALI KEKE NDEMSOU sx
Do you know that in Limba culture, the Hurebaŋ is fundamental? Hurebaŋ means initiation or “society”. Every young man who has shown signs of human maturity according to Limba tradition must go to the Hurebaŋ. Listening more and talking less is one of signs of human maturity in Limba culture. The Hurebaŋ is also a great sign of belonging to Limba tribe. How do they organize the Hurebaŋ? This question will help us to show the processes of the initiation in Limba culture.
We might speak of three steps of the Hurebaŋ. Its first step is the dance. One day before going to the bush, young men who are ready to go to the initiation have to dance. This ceremony is organized by the family members of the candidate to initiation. It is a moment of being together as family members. They have to prepare a lot food for their guests. Also, this ceremony is open to everybody. The dance usually begins around 4:00 pm; around 6:00 pm, the candidates accompanied by their sponsors are dressed and decorated according to the tradition. Then they can dance all night.
In the morning, second step, they lead them to the bush in order to properly start the hurebaŋ. It begins by the circumcision. During that period, we do not allow women to see them. They are completely secluded till the end of their initiation. It lasts at least one month. There they learn Limba values such as solidarity, respect to the elders, and endurance.
The third and final step is their lives in the villages as initiated men. They must not talk about what they experienced during the initiation to the non-initiated. Also, when they have to perform their rites as initiated, they don’t allow women and non-initiated men to see them. As soon as they announce through drums or song the banbani, which is the spirit of the society, is coming everybody must hide if he is not initiated.
In conclusion, this aspect of Limba culture is what binds them together. They cannot live without it. The missionaries should accept them as they are, try to understand and dialogue with their culture which is part of African Traditional Religion (ATR). Then they would have means for inculturation.
Do you know that in Limba culture, the Hurebaŋ is fundamental? Hurebaŋ means initiation or “society”. Every young man who has shown signs of human maturity according to Limba tradition must go to the Hurebaŋ. Listening more and talking less is one of signs of human maturity in Limba culture. The Hurebaŋ is also a great sign of belonging to Limba tribe. How do they organize the Hurebaŋ? This question will help us to show the processes of the initiation in Limba culture.
We might speak of three steps of the Hurebaŋ. Its first step is the dance. One day before going to the bush, young men who are ready to go to the initiation have to dance. This ceremony is organized by the family members of the candidate to initiation. It is a moment of being together as family members. They have to prepare a lot food for their guests. Also, this ceremony is open to everybody. The dance usually begins around 4:00 pm; around 6:00 pm, the candidates accompanied by their sponsors are dressed and decorated according to the tradition. Then they can dance all night.
In the morning, second step, they lead them to the bush in order to properly start the hurebaŋ. It begins by the circumcision. During that period, we do not allow women to see them. They are completely secluded till the end of their initiation. It lasts at least one month. There they learn Limba values such as solidarity, respect to the elders, and endurance.
The third and final step is their lives in the villages as initiated men. They must not talk about what they experienced during the initiation to the non-initiated. Also, when they have to perform their rites as initiated, they don’t allow women and non-initiated men to see them. As soon as they announce through drums or song the banbani, which is the spirit of the society, is coming everybody must hide if he is not initiated.
In conclusion, this aspect of Limba culture is what binds them together. They cannot live without it. The missionaries should accept them as they are, try to understand and dialogue with their culture which is part of African Traditional Religion (ATR). Then they would have means for inculturation.