THE NIGHT OF THE WITCHES TO THE RHYTHM OF THE TOM-TOM OF OUR ANCESTORS

The night of the Wizards to the rhythm of the Tam-Tam of our ancestors presents to us in turn the different conceptions of man facing witchcraft. Man who in order to protect himself from evil forces - forces represented by the ''Zo-tî-lïkündû'' or Sorcerers - is obliged to turn to the ''Ngänga'' traditional healers the only ones supposed to hold the secret of the world beyond the natural. These become for the traditional African guardian angels who through dances (such as Marie Germaine Nganga''s witch dance) and rituals can not only offer protection but also initiate him into the culture of this vast world (spirit world). Studies of the MBO BAMILEKE BETI and PEUL cultures of Cameroon or of the initiation rites in the BULU and TOGOLAISE cultures and their similarities would not only underline an important connection between African cultures but are also proof of the naturalness of the intimacy that can be created between man and nature.