Libation

Also: pouring of libation

Libation is the act of pouring a liquid, usually water, gin, palm wine or schnapps, on the ground as an offering to ancestors and deities. In Ghana, an elder or priest calls the names of the ancestors, invites them to drink and asks for blessings on the gathering. It opens funerals, weddings, naming ceremonies, festivals and meetings in many African communities, and is also performed in Caribbean and African American gatherings, such as Kwanzaa. The pouring links the living and the dead, and acknowledges that the community extends beyond those present. It is a short rite, said in a hushed voice.

Region: Sub-Saharan Africa

See also

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