Bwiti Missoko

What is the Missoko tradition?

Missoko is a combination of rituals practiced by the communities of the Central and Southern Gabon. These rituals are like a constellation that make up the Bwiti.

The Missoko emerged from the ritual of the Dissoumba. The original Dissoumba (which is different from the Bwiti Dissoumba Fang) is the mother of all the the different expressions of the Bwiti Tradition.

This is why, like the Dissoumba, most the rituals use the iboga root during the initiation.

The original blueprint of the Missoko came from the Pygmies and four communities who developed the Missoko into what it is today — Apindji, Mitsogo, Massango, and Pove. These communities have transmitted this knowledge generation after generation. 

What is the Missoko initiation?

First, the why.

Originally, initiation in Central Africa was to transmit spiritual knowledge. It was about entering into a field of knowledge and becoming a Nganga (person who practices the Bwiti and operates with mystico-spiritual science).

Missoko focuses not just on transmitting spiritual knowledge, but also healing. Over time, people realised they can't reserve the ritual just for the Nganga and people of Central Africa. People from all around the world need help, healing and access to themselves and the Universe. Now the Bwiti Missoko is open to everyone who wishes to experience it.

The initiation helps the bandzi (initiate) to be more deeply connected to him/herself, to the subtle realms and the Universe. Bwiti Missoko is connected first to the elements of the earth and, second, to the universe through you. When a person gets initiated in the Bwiti Missoko, they can feel life in everything — inside and outside of themselves. This science expresses the mystery of life and death.

There are many ways initiation can help a person, for example it can help you to:

      • Go deeper within yourself

      • Find your own rhythm in life, your authentic way, so you’re no longer hesitating and can take action

      • Receive deep spiritual wisdom, awakenings, and tools that can support you in your life

      • Receive answers to your questions and find what you’re looking for

      • Break free of lingering issues, blockages and self-limiting beliefs

      • Gain understanding and reset your subconscious programs and thought/behavioural patterns

      • Become empowered and embody your inner strength

      • Heal relationships with yourself as well as your family and past relationships

      • Let go of grief and come to deep forgiveness, peace, love and wisdom

      • Detox the mind, body, emotions, and spirit

      • Generational healing and connecting with your ancestors

      • Heal some medical issues

And now, the what.

The initiation for women and men are expressed differently.

The initiation takes normally one week, starting by consultation (divination) and followed by preparation of all necessary elements, internal and external purification (including smoke baths, taking natural elements for internal cleansing, and spiritual rituals). During the ritual ngangas use many elements from the forest (mabunza), as the Bwiti comes from the forest.

The purification and preparation puts the bandzi in the condition to receive the sacred wood (iboga) during the initiation. This purification and preparation is obligatory before the initiation.

Then, the actual initiation begins with eating sacred wood (Iboga bark) during a ceremony which lasts between one and two days. During this time the bandzi, the Nganga and initiated men and women go to the forest for specific rituals. The bandzi also eats a special mystical dish. Other initiates participate in the ritual with specified songs and dances will support the bandzi’s spiritual journey.

Throughout the initiation, the bandzi is in a special condition to receive the Knowledge (there are many ways, through visions, realizations, ritual dances and the words of people), to let go and heal, to discover and to receive whatever it is they came to receive... Everyone's experience is different — it depends on your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual constitution.

The spiritual father and elders are there at every step, managing the ritual and ensuring the correct protocol is being followed. After the initiation, you’ll have a private time with the Nganga to receive more information about the Bwiti Tradition and understand your own experience.

How to go deeper

This spiritual tradition is about practice. To go deeper, it’s recommended to stay for extra couple of weeks or more and receive more tools from the tradition.

Find out more about the program to learn more after initiation.