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Njembe

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

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a female association among the natives of Southern Guinea, corresponding to Ndh (q.v.) among the males. The proceedings of this institution are all secret. The women consider it an honor to belong to the order, and put themselves to great expense to be admitted. "During the process of initiation," as we learn from Mr. Wilson, ‘"all the women belonging to the order paint their bodies in the most fantastic colors. The face, arms, breast, and legs are covered over with red and white spots, sometimes arranged in circles, and at other times in straight lines. They march in regular the from the village to the woods, where all their ceremonies are performed, accompanied by music on a crescent-formed drum. The party spend whole nights in the woods, and sometimes exposed, to the heaviest showers of rain. A sort of vestal-fire is used in celebration of these ceremonies, and it is never allowed to go out until they are all over." The Njembe, as a body, are really feared by the men. They pretend to detect thieves, to find out the secrets of their enemies, and in various ways they are useful to the community in which they live, or are, at least, so regarded by the people. The object of the institution originally, no doubt, was to protect the females from harsh treatment on the part of their husbands;' and as ‘ their performances are always veiled in mystery, and they. have acquired the reputation of performing wonders, the men are, no doubt, very much restrained by the fear and respect they have for them as a body.