The theatre of Spirits. Possession and performance in the Bijagó islands of Guinea Bissau

Abstract

Analysing a possession cult in the Bijagó Islands of Guinea Bissau, the essay focuses on how women, through specific initiation rites, allow the spirits of prematurely deceased men to complete their existential journey. Demonstrating how the women involved in these rituals gain positions of power and authority, the article delves into this form of possession characterized by a collective and non-pathological dimension, describing it as a ritual performance that facilitates the social and personal transformation of the participants. In particular, it highlights how these ritual practices not only influence the community's social and cultural structure but also contribute to the preservation and transmission of cultural memory, offering new interpretative perspectives on the local socio-cultural dynamics.