Books about the Bwiti Tradition
We’re delighted to share our selected list of books on the Bwiti Tradition. May they inspire you!
An important note…
We recognize how curious people are to learn about the Bwiti Tradition prior to and after initiation.
One thing to remember is that while books are a great start, they can’t provide an exact representation of the tradition which is based on direct experience.
Something to consider is who is writing the books.
Consider anthropologists. Even if they spend time in Gabon and are initiated (though this is rare), they do not practice the tradition in the same way as the ngangas and nimas, who are deeply steeped in it.
The goal of such researchers and scholars is to describe the tradition and not to live it. They search for connections between the tradition and their academic knowledge. They give labels, search for influences, and try to explain how one rite affected the other, or how colonialism and Christianity influenced the Bwiti Fang branch, etc. While these books can provide initial insight into the complex world of the Bwiti Tradition, they do not offer a full understanding of it.
Books written by Bwiti masters are closer to the source, but they intentionally leave some questions open so those who are genuinely interested can discover through experience.
These books can answer questions like "What is initiation?", "Is iboga a hallucinogen?", "Why are visions important?" and more.
If you’re seeking a deeper understanding of the tradition, which is transmitted orally from master to student based on the student's maturity and their direct experiences during initiation. For that, see our upcoming initiations.
These books are an excellent start for beginning to know more about the Bwiti tradition.
We intentionally omitted the books authored by Western initiates detailing their psychedelic experience and publications concerning the curative qualities of ibogaine. Our focus lies primarily on the Bwiti Tradition rather than solely on iboga.
The majority of these books are written in French and some may be challenging to find. Our team is actively working on translating works by Bwiti masters and practitioners into English, with a focus on books in the public domain or for which we have obtained author permissions.
English Language
Books written by Bwiti Masters and practitioners:
Prince Birinda de Boudiéguy: “The Secret Bible of Africa according to Bwiti”. English edition, translated by Bwiti Initiations, 2020. (FREE).
Angap Dzam: “M’Mui, the Intimate Friend”, English edition, translated by Bwiti Initiations, 2023. (new).
Brice-Parfait Ndzigou: “Sacred Light of the Blacks”. Lulu Publishing, 2011.
Regis Nziengui: “The Six Agreements Tsogho”, 2021. (new)
Master Atome Ribenga: “Iboga and the Bwiti Tradition in Gabon” (this book includes all nine books of the Master and is available for preorder on Amazon). Jonglez Publishing, 2024. (new)
Books written by anthropologists and researchers:
James F. Fernandez: “Bwiti. An Ethnography of Religious Imagination in Africa”. Princeton University Press, 2019.
French Language
Books written by Bwiti Masters and practitioners:
Prince Birinda de Boudiéguy: “La Bible Secrète des Noirs: Doctrine initiatique de l’Afrique Equatoriale”, Paris, 1952.
Angap Dzam: “M’Mui, L’Ami Intime”, Gabon, 2022 (nouveau)
Maître Mulema: “La neutralité de l’énergie et de loi Divine”. Independently published, 2022.
Maître Mulema: “Cosmologie – Cosmogonie. Tradition et Initiation”. Independently published, 2022.
Maître Mulema: “Mimbara dans la tradition mystico-spirituelle Bwitiste”. Independently published, 2022.
Landri Ekomie Obame: "Qu'est-ce que le Bwiti? Regard croisé sur une religion naturelle africaine", L'harmattan, 2014.
Landri Ekomie Obame: “Le Bwiti: Rite Initiatique et Thérapeutique Africain”, L'harmattan, 2023. (nouveau)
Maître Atome Ribenga: “La Tradition Bwitiste au Gabon. Voie directe de communication avec le Divin”. Second extended edition, CITRAB, 2021.
Maître Atome Ribenga: “L’Initiation Bwitiste au Gabon. Voie de connaissance de soi, de Dieu, de sas lois et des ses manifestations”. CITRAB, 2002.
Maître Atome Ribenga: “Tradition Biblique et Tradition Bwitiste. Quels rapports? CITRAB, 2015.
Maître Atome Ribenga: “La Tradition Bwitiste au Gabon. Culte d’ancêtres, animism ou tradition monothéiste?”. CITRAB, 2021.
Maître Atome Ribenga: “L’Eboga, bois sacre, arbe de la connaissance du bien et du mal”. CITRAB, 2021.
Maître Atome Ribenga: “La Harpe Sacree Bwitiste Ngombi ou Ngome. Symbole Divin, lieu de rencontre avec l’Eternel et instrument de louanges et d’invocations divines chez les Bwitistes au Gabon”. CITRAB, 2021.
Maître Atome Ribenga: “La vision, le reve, le songe et l’audition spirituels sont-ils necessaires a la croyance et a la foi?” CITRAB, 2021.
Maître Atome Ribenga: “Les Murmures de Mbambwe”, CITRAB, 2000.
Maître Atome Ribenga: “"Aspects propagandistes des religions, sectes at traditions mystiques et spirituelles dans le monde", CITRAB 2021.*
(*books by Master Atome Ribenga can be found at CITRAB in Libreville. The new upcoming book “Iboga and the Bwiti Tradition in Gabon”, which includes all nine books of the Master is available for preorder on Amazon).
Books written by anthropologists and researchers:
Julien Bonhomme: "Le miroir et le crâne. Parcours initiatique du Bwete Misoko (Gabon)". OpenEdition Books, 2017.
René Bureau: "Bokaye! Essai sur le Bwiti Fang du Gabon". L'harmattan, 1996.
Malendi, Agnès Paicheler, Vincent Ravalec: "Bois sacré. Initiation à l’iboga". Diable Vauvert, 2017.
André Mary: "La Naissance à l'envers - Essay sure le rituel du Bwiti-Fang au Gabon". L'harmattan, 2000.
Simon-Pierre E. Mvone Ndong: "Bwiti et Christianisme. Approche philosophique et théologique". L'harmattan, 2007.
Stéphanie Nkoghe: "Eléments d'anthropologie gabonaise: Méthode, Collecte, Oralité, Cuisine, Portage, Interdits, Bwiti, Esclavage, Sorcellerie, Parenté". L'harmattan, 2008.
Andre Raponda-Walker, Roger Sillans: “Rites et Croyances des Peuples du Gabon”. Editions Raponda-Walker, 2005.
Andre Raponda-Walker, Roger Sillans: “Les Plantes Utiles du Gabon”. Editions Raponda-Walker, 2017.
Stanislaw Swiderski: “La Religion Bouiti. Vol 1: Historie, part 1”. LEGAS, 1990.
Stanislaw Swiderski: “La Religion Bouiti. Vol 1: Historie, part 2”. LEGAS, 1990.
Stanislaw Swiderski: “La Religion Bouiti. Vol 2: Philosophie et théologie”. LEGAS, 1990.
Stanislaw Swiderski: “La Religion Bouiti. Vol 3: Liturgie”. LEGAS, 1990.
Stanislaw Swiderski: “La Religion Bouiti. Vol 4: Art sacré”. LEGAS, 1990.
Stanislaw Swiderski: “La Religion Bouiti. Vol 5: Encyclopédie”. LEGAS, 1990.
Stanislaw Swiderski: “La Religion Bouiti. Vol 6: Spiritualité”. LEGAS, 1990.
Spanish Language:
Antonio de Veciana Vilaldach: “La secta del Bwiti en la Guinea Espanola”. Mexico City, 1987.
Portuguese Language:
Prince Birinda de Boudiéguy: “A Bíblia Secreta dos Negros: Doutrina Iniciática da Africa Equatorial”, Madras, 2006.
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There are more books about the Bwiti Tradition in different languages. You can find more detailed information about them here.
