They are mainly Catholics and Animists. In spite of the fact that they believe in God our creator, we do not exclude the fact that they believe in a supernatural power. According to them, nature is animated by certain spirits.
Local beliefs and practices
The Maka people believe that one can only get married if he or she is baptized.
They believe in sorrorate marriage. The widower whose wife is dead needs to get married to the sister of his dead wife for her to take care of her sister’s children, if ever she had one, and continue with the work left by her sister (giving birth, taking care of the home , the husband, etc.).
They believe that a woman is sacred and not an object. Thus in case of danger, the woman must be the first one to be saved, even if children are present. This is because she is believed to be the future and she has a precious power that God gave her and that no other being has it.
The Maka people believe that one can only get married if he or she is baptized.
They believe in sorrorate marriage. The widower whose wife is dead needs to get married to the sister of his dead wife for her to take care of her sister’s children, if ever she had one, and continue with the work left by her sister (giving birth, taking care of the home , the husband, etc.).
They believe that a woman is sacred and not an object. Thus in case of danger, the woman must be the first one to be saved, even if children are present. This is because she is believed to be the future and she has a precious power that God gave her and that no other being has it.
Rituals
The Maka believe that a widow or widower must not greet someone with the hand and must not go out for twelve days. During this time, he or she is guarded by someone. They do not bathe for three days. Every object they use must not be used by anyone else, during that period. The widow/widower needs to sleep near the dead body, the night preceding the burial day. If the couple had some children, the children have to be washed in the rivers by a specialized elder.
When there is a natural calamity, animals are sacrificed to the god of nature, in order to calm him down and flatter him.
Being a leader entails some preservation and loneliness for nine days. The initiation ceremonies begin in the forest. The elders teach to the new king the history of the Maka tribe and some ancestral values. This period is called Mpwine. The Mpwine generally represents a purification ritual that is practiced after the death of a parent. It is also characterized by bloody pacts. After their brief stay in the forest, the elders and the new king return to the village for the beginning of the enthronement ceremony. At nightfall, the women turn naked around the village, singing and dancing to welcome the new chief. After that, they smear him with their spit. This act is a sign of blessing and it is performed in order to increase the king’s effectiveness. The oiling of spit on the king is called the Metele. After the Metele has been completed, elders which belong to the secret society called Shwaga place the king on the throne and he is given a war spear, which is called kwon-le-domb. He is also given a javelin, which is locally known as la. The members of the shwaga also give him an arc called the banga, and a commanding stick. All those objects are symbols of his new power and authority. Moreover, the shwaga also cover his head with a red cap, which is locally called Bubwage, on which parrot’s feathers called Mesha-mekus, and gris-gris were fixed. The Mesha-mekus represented a power of protection. The chief wore clothes made of the cat’s skin, which render him invulnerable to witchcraft. All these rehearse are performed at night. At dawn, the women bring the chief to the public place and the elder present the king to the public, during a brief ceremony which is followed by a great feast. The new king has to be recommended to the Nkon, who sits on the fetishes who are buried under the ground, during the enthronement ceremony. At nightfall the new king must offer some presents to the Nkon to receive blessings and magical powers.
The Maka believe that a widow or widower must not greet someone with the hand and must not go out for twelve days. During this time, he or she is guarded by someone. They do not bathe for three days. Every object they use must not be used by anyone else, during that period. The widow/widower needs to sleep near the dead body, the night preceding the burial day. If the couple had some children, the children have to be washed in the rivers by a specialized elder.
When there is a natural calamity, animals are sacrificed to the god of nature, in order to calm him down and flatter him.
Being a leader entails some preservation and loneliness for nine days. The initiation ceremonies begin in the forest. The elders teach to the new king the history of the Maka tribe and some ancestral values. This period is called Mpwine. The Mpwine generally represents a purification ritual that is practiced after the death of a parent. It is also characterized by bloody pacts. After their brief stay in the forest, the elders and the new king return to the village for the beginning of the enthronement ceremony. At nightfall, the women turn naked around the village, singing and dancing to welcome the new chief. After that, they smear him with their spit. This act is a sign of blessing and it is performed in order to increase the king’s effectiveness. The oiling of spit on the king is called the Metele. After the Metele has been completed, elders which belong to the secret society called Shwaga place the king on the throne and he is given a war spear, which is called kwon-le-domb. He is also given a javelin, which is locally known as la. The members of the shwaga also give him an arc called the banga, and a commanding stick. All those objects are symbols of his new power and authority. Moreover, the shwaga also cover his head with a red cap, which is locally called Bubwage, on which parrot’s feathers called Mesha-mekus, and gris-gris were fixed. The Mesha-mekus represented a power of protection. The chief wore clothes made of the cat’s skin, which render him invulnerable to witchcraft. All these rehearse are performed at night. At dawn, the women bring the chief to the public place and the elder present the king to the public, during a brief ceremony which is followed by a great feast. The new king has to be recommended to the Nkon, who sits on the fetishes who are buried under the ground, during the enthronement ceremony. At nightfall the new king must offer some presents to the Nkon to receive blessings and magical powers.
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