Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Guinea Bissau Superstitions and Folklore
Guinea Bissau Superstitions and Folklore
GUINEA-BISSAU
Superstitions & Folklore
General ...............................................................................................................................................1 Specific Superstitions ...........................................................................................................................1 Voodoo ............................................................................................................................................1 Juju .................................................................................................................................................1 Ibambo and Abambo ........................................................................................................................1 Ombwiri and Awiri ............................................................................................................................1 Sinkinda and Nkinda .........................................................................................................................1 Mondi and Myondi ............................................................................................................................1 Other Superstitions ..............................................................................................................................2 Bad Luck Signs and Actions ...............................................................................................................2 Death and Kwendi (Mourning) ...........................................................................................................2 Journey or Travels ............................................................................................................................2 Pregnancy ........................................................................................................................................2
COPYRIGHT
Copyright 19932010 by World Trade Press. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction or use of any part of this work without the express written permission of the copyright holder is unlawful. Request for permission and/or translation or electronic rights should be addressed to the publisher.
800 Lindberg Lane, Suite 190, Petaluma, California 94952 USA Tel: +1 (707) 778-1124 Fax: (707) 778-1329 sales@WorldTradePress.com www.WorldTradePress.com www.BestCountryReports.com www.GlobalRoadWarrior.com www.AtoZtheWorld.com www.AtoZMapsOnline.com
Guinea-Bissau
GUINEA-BISSAU
Superstitions & Folklore
General
Most Guineans are farmers with traditional African anamistic beliefs; 45 percent are Muslim, and less than 10 percent are Christian. Those that follow Islam or Christianity often integrate traditional African practices into their lives. Even today, people believe that if a particular area in a road is causing too many accidents, there must be ghosts and evil spirits at work. They believe that their offspring are the chosen ones to receive the power from the spirits of their ancestors. Offerings to the ancestral spirits, such as food, wine and animal sacrifices are placed in shrines where the people gather to hold ceremonies, believing that these spirits defend their community against evil elements and bad luck.
Juju
Juju-Marabou originated among the West African tribes, particularly in Yoruba. In juju, certain fetish objects are used to call the spirits to manipulate events. The spirits can be convened by a witchdoctor for two purposes; to cure illness of mind and body, which they call the good juju, but also to perform revenge, harm, and other forms of bad luck which they call the bad juju.
Copyright 1993-2010 by World Trade Press. All Rights Reserved. www.WorldTradePress.com www.BestCountryReports.com
Superstitions & Folklore Unlike other spirits, they are more active and cause injuries at their own pleasure. They are often the cause of violent possessions in humans, and to exorcise them, invocations of the other spiritsthe ilaga, sinkinda, and awririare necessary.
Guinea-Bissau When the men who mourn go out to fish, the mourning should stop else it will bring bad luck to fishing. If the person who died is a great man, then festivities should be held during mourning to appease the dead persons spirit who is believed to walk among the people.
Journey or Travels
If the first person a caravan should meet on a journey is a woman, then it is a good sign. Seeing a man, however, will mean that something bad is going to happen. If a caravan came across a Kna (an African bird) that is all black, then it is a bad sign. If the Knas wing is tipped with white, then it is a good sign for travelers. If a person is traveling and is met by Benda (rat) running across the path from left to right, then it is a good sign. If it is from right to left, then it is a fairly good sign. If it runs in the same direction as where that person is headed, then it is a very good sign. But if it runs opposite where the person is going (towards him or her) then that person should head back, or else he or she will be met with bad luck. When traveling, a person should start walking with either his or her left foot first, he or she should be a highstepper because if the left foot hits anything, it is not a bad sign. However if the right foot hits any obstacle, then it is considered bad luck and that person should go back to town. A person should shoot a Nkuku (cuckoo) before it crosses his or her path. If it crosses the path then that person should go back since it is a bad omen. When a Mampaulo-paulo (owl) hoots, it signifies good luck. If a camp is perturbed by the cry of a Kulu (spirit of the dead), it means that someone in that camp is going to die. A Nduma (snake) should not cross a persons path during travels since it is a sign of death; if it happens, that person should go back. Men should sleep early during travels. If they see a falling star, then it means that one of their princes is going to die. When there is thunder that is out of season, it means a celebrated prince will die. If a Mbulu (wild dog) crosses a persons path, the person must return home, since it signifies bad luck. If a jackal should cry in the same direction travelers are going, then they should head back or perform rituals to prepare for what is ahead of them.
Pregnancy
A couple must not eat the flesh of an impregnated animal if the woman is pregnant, otherwise the baby will have a hard life. A man should not assist in the butchering of an animal or cut the animals throat if his wife is pregnant, the unborn baby will be injured. If the husband of a pregnant woman is a carpenter, he should not drive a nail or else the womb of the woman will close and she will have difficulty in giving birth. The man should not clean a graveyard or its path during his wifes pregnancy or else the wife will have troubles.
Copyright 1993-2010 by World Trade Press. All Rights Reserved. www.WorldTradePress.com www.BestCountryReports.com
Superstitions & Folklore A mother should not breastfeed her child under the hot sun since the heat spoils the milk and the child might be poisoned.
Guinea-Bissau
Copyright 1993-2010 by World Trade Press. All Rights Reserved. www.WorldTradePress.com www.BestCountryReports.com