Societies of Secrets

African Societies of Secrets are organizations whose primary role is to be the custodians and regulators of the harmonious functioning of a given community. These members help sustain and regulate the development of the ancient wisdom, traditions, and culture of that group. Their most distinguishing factor is their adherence to secrecy. Information regarding the collective wisdom is held secret by its members and is only revealed to those deemed worthy by elders, primarily during and after a rites-of-passage process.

The primary objective for keeping this body of knowledge secret is to protect its integrity and to keep it away from spiritually immature individuals who may use the knowledge for malicious purposes. This body of knowledge teaches its members how to govern society, maintain a balance between social groups, impart knowledge of the universe, and work the instruments of that society to manipulate its environment. This gives the group a competitive advantage over external or internal threats that may disrupt the balance of that society.

This body of wisdom has been passed down through ancestors who are believed to be accessible to those who know how to invoke and harness the energy through ritual. These ancestors have the information on how to draw on forces, powers, and spirits for enhancing the quality of life here on Earth. The secrets on how to properly and successfully utilize these methods are held by qualified members of these groups.

Although African Societies of Secrets have many characteristics, the following three are the main identifiers: initiation rites, caste memberships, and the “sacred society”—the spiritual arm of the corporate group.