Societies of Secrets 621A rite of passage educates the youth in matters
of marriage, procreation, sexual life, and family
responsibilities. This marks the beginning of
acquiring knowledge that is not accessible to them
before their initiation. Neophytes are separated by
gender and are taken away from the general cor-
porate community. The goal is to develop latent
physical skills, develop intellectual skills, endure
hardships to alleviate the sense of fear, learn to
live communally, acquire specific vocational train-
ing and a healthy attitude toward honest labor,
respect elders, and learn the secrets of nature and
the male/female relationship.
Initiation rites have many symbolic meanings.
The ritualistic death and rebirth process signifies the
dying of old habits and ways of thinking, living in
the spirit world (thus being in isolation, as in a
woman’s womb), and being reborn again into the
corporate community. Initiates now can wear certain
clothing and symbols that were not accessible to
them before. They learn symbolic dances, hand-
shakes, and, in adult rites, a secret language only
known to members of that group. For example,
Dr. Gerhard Kubik discovered that the ideograms
calledTusonahave a philosophic meaning that is
known only to the elders who speak the Luchazi lan-
guage in the Kabompo district of Zambia. Initiates
are often given new names after completion.
Initiation is not only for youth; adults experi-
ence it several times throughout their adult life,
usually until around age 72. A few African ethnic
groups that practice such rites are the Yoruba
of Nigeria, the Akan of Ghana, and the Maasai
and Akamba of Kenya.
CasteIn many African societies, one is born into a caste
(not to be confused with hierarchal social castes such
as in India, which mark members for life), or one
may choose a caste when one chooses a career path.
Castes are often associated with such professions as
blacksmiths, iron smelters, stonemasons, engineers,
farmers, and warriors. These castes are often appren-
ticeships, in which initiates are taught the secrets of
the craft, be it warfare or wood carving. An example
would be the Dogon of Mali who have a caste for
their “morticians.” Although they are different, they
all work for the betterment of the society.
Sacred Society
The Sacred Society deals with the spiritual compo-
nent of a given society. The initiation rites and
caste serve a spiritual component as well, but it is
this aspect of the Secret Society in which we get
our priests who are responsible for the uplifting of
the soul. Many African priests use divination as
a method to stay connected with spirit and to be
able to draw on spiritual energy to successfully
complete mundane tasks for the society.
Many cultures in Africa use masks to tell sto-
ries of a moral character or, as in the case of the
Dogon of Mali, use them to symbolically reenact
the movement of the stars in a given constellation
during open ceremonies. Only the duly initiated
can wear certain masks.
There are many levels one can attain in a priest-
hood in Africa. The Yoruba priests of Ifa, for
instance, have different levels (three, primarily) to
their priesthood:- Awo—first-level initiate in the mysteries
- Iyalorishas—mother of mysteries/Babalaworishas—
father of mysteries - Oluwo—master of the mysteries (men exclusively)
Correlate the above with the three levels
known in the ancient Kemetic priesthood:- Mortals—students who were being instructed
on a probationary status, but who had not
experienced the inner vision—neophytes. - Intelligences—students who had attained inner
vision and had received a glimpse of cosmic
consciousness. - Sons of Light—students who had become
identified with or united with the light
(God)—masters of the mysteries.
Conclusion
African Societies of Secrets serve as the vehicle
that organizes and socializes communities and
families in a manner that uplifts the society and
keeps it cohesive. It also serves as an educational
medium through an initiation rite of passage for
members at various stages in life. The higher