Related to annual hegemonic festivals is the
seclusion of the priest, priestess, or votary maid
who bears the seal of the pact between the deity of
the land and the first settler, usually dramatized in
hegemonic festivals. The bearer of the seal is pre-
pared for the journey usually in seclusion that
lasts a period of 7 days or more. The votary maid
of Osun Osogbo in Nigeria presents a good exam-
ple. She goes into seclusion on ritual preparation
to be able to succeed in the festival, where she is
expected to carry the symbolic calabash represent-
ing the presence of the Osun deity, the failure of
which spells calamity for the entire town, includ-
ing the monarch.
Training of and Special Operations
by Priests, Priestesses, and Healers
The training and initiation of priests, priest-
esses, and healers are usually conducted in seclu-
sion. Among the Akan of Ghana, for example, to
become a priest healer requires the candidates
to undergo several years of training in seclusion.
The candidate is “separated from the world” to
observe strict taboos and other disciplines, and to
receive instructions in natural and religious laws.
In the process, he or she goes into possession by
the deity. Priests and priestesses may also be
required to go into seclusion in moments of crisis
affecting the community, during which time con-
sultations are made with deities who are claimed
to be responsible for the problems and those who
are claimed to be capable of resolving the crisis.
During the period of such seclusion, rites are per-
formed to remove and ward off the effects of evils
in the land and to restore ontological equilibrium.
In some cases, patients with chronic diseases are
made to undergo a period of seclusion with the
priests and priestesses to be able to properly diag-
nose and perform necessary treatment of their dis-
eases as required by some supernatural deities.
Fecundity
Metida is a common form of seclusion prac-
ticed by the Southern Nilotic agropastoral,
Datoga-speaking peoples of the Mbulu/Hanang
districts of Northern Tanzania. It involves daily
and ritual practice that implies the seclusion of
people, animals, and parts of land. The seclusion
or restriction will thus control and prevent those
elements from their inherently dirty and con-
tagious influence, which causes infertility. Women
are mostly affected by severe restrictions because
they are regarded as highly susceptible to the
threats and consequences caused by death and
misfortune.Contemporary Contexts
The practice of seclusion still persists in most
parts of Africa, but there has been a decline in
its intensity in some communities, particularly
in relation to indigenous tradition. The decline
is due to the obvious reason of industrialization.
Communal life may become eroded when indi-
viduals live far away, and some engage in eco-
nomic establishments that do not offer
unlimited opportunities to stay away from daily
work. Second, the doctrines and practices of
other religions in Africa are affecting such a
practice as seclusion in indigenous practices,
particularly the puberty rites. However, seclu-
sion regarding death ritual, kingship, and hege-
monic festivals are still strong in most parts of
Africa. Besides, African-initiated churches
employ seclusion on the numerous clients who
patronize them for effective healing. Also, indi-
viduals within these traditions and some Islamic
movements who are in desperate need for spiri-
tual powers to become charismatic priest and
priestess healers go into seclusion on mountains,
riversides, and wildernesses.David O. OgungbileSee alsoRites of Passage; RitualsFurther Readings
Awolalu, J. O., & Dopamu, P. A. (1979).West African
Traditional Religion. Ibadan, Nigeria: Onibonoje
Press.
Blystad, A., Rekdal, O. B., & Malleyeck, H. (2007).
Seclusion, Protection and Avoidance: Exploring the
Metida Complex Among the Datoga of Northern
Tanzania.Africa:The Journal of the International
African Institute, 77 (3), 331–350.
Brettel, C., & Sargent, C. F. (2001).Gender in Cross-
Cultural Perspective. Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Prentice Hall.600 Seclusion