BWITI MUSIC - Sounds of the Ngombi, the sacred harp of the bwiti fang
Each initiation in the Bwiti Dissoumba Fang tradition is accompanied by the sacred harp Ngombi (or Ngoma). We are pleased to share with you some of the initiatory songs from these ceremonies.
Like iboga, the Ngombi plays an essential role in initiation. In his book “The Bwitist Sacred Harp Ngombe or Ngome”, Master Atome Ribenga (1942-2022), one of Gabon's most esteemed Bwiti Nimas, writes:
“The role of the harp in spiritual initiations involves guiding the candidate who is being initiated, once their spiritual being, under the influence of iboga, the sacred wood, has left their body, towards the divine realms that correspond to their level of spiritual evolution. If they are less evolved, they will stop at the lower realms. But if they are highly developed, they will also reach higher divine levels”.
“During mystical initiation its role is extraordinary. It involves turning the candidate's consciousness deeply inward, towards their inner self, allowing them to dive into the uncreated ocean of pure divinity. There, they are alone with God, without any other intermediary, no matter how great they may be in the celestial hierarchy. The simplest role the sacred harp can play on the initiate, the layperson, or even the least developed person in the world, is to help each of them relax, concentrate, and perhaps even meditate, each according to their level of spiritual evolution. It is truly wonderful”!
The music in this video is played by a Beti Ngoma (the harpist) Michel Ntou Toum. He is a Bwiti ceremonial musician and a master of the sacred harp Ngombi, with over 35 years of dedicated practice. His apprenticeship began under the guidance of his mother, a consecrated nima of the Dissoumba Fang tradition. He further honed his craft under the tutelage of the renowned master and sacred musician Nzet Mbwe. For more than a decade, Michel served as the harpist at the temple of Master Atome Ribenga in Libreville, and to this day, he continues to collaborate with nimas from the same school.
