BACKGROUND
Bwiti can be seen as an African Religion that was inspired by the teachings and philosophy of the Babongo Pygmies. It is a religion, which doesn’t imply any kind of conversion whatsoever.Bwiti accept people as they are and do not prevent them from practising other religions; simply because all of it is Bwiti. Bwiti is seldom spoken about without mentioning IBOGA (Tabernanthe Iboga), the miraculous plant that has been used in Bwiti for more than 1500 years (according to archaeological findings) as a sacrament.
Iboga is a door that gives access to the invisible world. It enables you to learn more about your inner self and so helps to bring about self-awareness and a sense of purpose. Babongo pygmies of the rainforest of Gabon firstly used Iboga, and as such Bwiti is clearly the source of knowledge of this holy plant.
The main philosophy of the Bwiti is to make you aware of the fact that Bwiti (God), is yourself, it’s myself and everything and everybody around us. Everything around us is within ourselves; the same as the universe is part of you as much as you are part of it. A Bwiti ceremony is a celebration while cleaning your self spiritually, emotionally and physically. The initiation, which is the first step on the path of Bwiti, is done with the use of Iboga root bark. This stage is a rebirth, you get to know your inner self, gain self-awareness and so learn who you are and the purpose of your life. Bwiti rituals are an expression of joy; we let go and express ourselves in dance; song and music. Aside from benefiting physically from dancing, there are the medical benefits of Iboga, which is important as well. Iboga or its extracts can be used to reset the brain to a pre-addictive state; or eliminating the effects of heroin or opiate withdrawals; cleansing the body. It also works on nicotine, alcohol, cocaine and amphetamine and can help stop craving and acts as an anti depressant while stored in the liver as noribogaine. Iboga has also been used to release repressed trauma or negative energy and acts as a tool for helping people overcome painful and often damaging experiences, which are often the cause for negative behaviour patterns.
Apart from having been used in Gabon originally,this plant is currently used in other parts of the world to release people from drug addiction; where it is used as an addiction interrupter and to get to the source of the condition. As western scientists are using this plant without discernment and without a complete awareness of what this plant is, the effectiveness of the treatments they propose is limited, and some treatments might even be dangerous. Some of these healers have understood that they will be more efficient and more successful if they accede to the traditional knowledge as well. From here has come the idea of creating an interrelation between the two sciences, the African one and the Western one; while setting a standard of ethics for safety and screening.
FONDATION OF THE ASSOCIATION
Simultaneously, during a traditional ceremony, some Bwitists have clearly perceived the message that the time for a “Neo-Bwiti” had come. The Neo-Bwiti is now perceived as a necessity to renew the understanding of what Bwiti is and to correct some past misunderstandings in its interpretation. From there, this Association has been founded.
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