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Bwiti is a tradition that originates from the Bwiti tribe in Gabon, Africa, which means...
“The Study of Life or the Study of Nature“.
Bwiti - Traditional spiritual path
Bwiti and the Iboga plant’s symbiotic relationship goes back thousands of years to when the Iboga plant was first discovered. Iboga became a sacrament of the Bwiti, with nearly every aspect of their tradition and their ceremonies given to them by the spirit of Iboga itself. Iboga is such an important part of their lives, that it is used as the initiation into the tradition and is consumed regularly at ceremonies.
Bwiti is not a religion but a traditional spiritual path that brings you to a deep connection with your soul, it teaches you to control yourself and be present in your own experience. It allows you to uncover all the truths about yourself that may be holding you back from living the life you want. We use the sacred herbal medicine IBOGA to travel within. It is the sacrament of tradition, the "gentle giant" a plant teacher with innate wisdom to guide you to the truth of who you are.
Missoko Bwiti Tradition
The Missoko Bwiti tradition goes back thousands of years and its lineage can be traced back to the oldest
time of mankind. It comes from the Dissumba tradition, which is the original form of Bwiti which eventually
split into different sects, each still holding many of the same traditions.
The tradition began with the Babongs of Gabon, who are also known as Pygmies, however,
Pygmy is a French term and is considered derogatory.
Even before they discovered Iboga, the Babongo people studied life itself. It created the basis for the tradition we have today. The Babongo were also the discoverers Iboga and ultimately Iboga influenced and inspired all Bwiti. Almost every aspect of Missoko today's tradition is created by the spirit of Iboga and Iboga is their main sacrament. Babongo people kept the sacrament of Iboga among themselves and for a very long time they kept it secret to protect it. Finally they shared it with others and it is now one of the main spiritual traditions of Gabon.
Misrepresentation and Misrepresentation
Much of the Bwiti information available in books and on the internet is actually about the Fang tradition.
Fang aren't the only branch out there, and they're actually quite different from Missoko.
While the Fang are Bwiti, they are actually influenced by Christianity brought to Gabon by F
rench missionaries several hundred years ago. Missoko Bwiti has no Christian influence and is
less known today because it was deliberately hidden and kept secret to protect it from the Christians
and French colonialists.
Missoko Bwiti was only passed down from breath to breath or through oral tradition and for this reason much of the available data is limited to the Fangs who had more contact with the West. The history of Missoko Bwiti was not recorded as we record it in the west but was passed down stories from generation to generation.
Rituals and Ceremonies
Missoko Bwiti rituals and ceremonies are powerfully rich expressions of the human spirit. Rite of Passage, a "coming of age" ritual for women and men of all ages, lasting varying lengths of time and brings changed people on the other side. It works as a way to ensure community, integrity and connection, which is something we have lost in the west. Initiation is another "coming of age" rite, when is iboga consumed. Initiation is where they learn the reality of life and meet their soul, recognize, who they really are. Initiation ceremonies include the consumption of Iboga, lots of wonderful music and dancing. They are very strong a traditional experience to participate in.
Shaman
Shamans (Nimas) are the spiritual leaders of the community and undergo rigorous training for decades. In the case of our Shaman, his birth was prophesied years in advance. The new shaman is usually someone in the previous shaman's bloodline, but not necessarily their son or daughter.
Shaman is the chief healer and spiritual guide of the community. When someone is sick or in spiritual trouble, they turn to a shaman who has a full set of jungle and spirit tools to aid in their healing. A good shaman is a master of herbal remedies found in the jungle, knowing hundreds of plants inside and out.
Nature
Bwiti believe that they will be provided with everything they need. If you've ever walked in a jungle in Gabon, you will quickly understand how this gratitude and trust came about. Nutritious food and fruit can be gathered from almost anywhere traps can be set for what they call "bushmeat" and simply collected rather than spending days hunting. Water too it flows profusely with plenty of rain to keep the jungle alive. As mentioned above, the oldest Bwiti were constantly studying life itself and explored who it might be that gave them life and abundance. From that search came a powerful message that nature it will always give them what they need, but if they misused it or became attached to it, they would suffer misery.
This concept is such a powerful distillation of wisdom when explored. One quickly understands why people existing in the "modern world" they are so unhappy that their lives are the accumulation of material possessions and living in a whole structure that abuses the natural world and is deeply connected to the material the goods she mined. The Bwiti still live with the integrity that results from their respect for this proverb. They live a simpler life that is deeply connected to nature and community, making them incredibly happy.
The only prayer in the Bwiti tradition
Thank you creator for another new day
