← Religion & Culture

African Cultural Ceremonies

Dynamic scenes of various tribal dances and rituals celebrating heritage and community, featuring colorful attire and communal participation.

Pokot women sing and dance at the conclusion of a Sapana ceremony.

Mali, Near Bandiagara, Dogon Country, Bandiagara Escarpment, Traditonal Dogon Dance In Village

Masai songs and dances during circumcision ceremony

Back shot of Surma warriors during Donga ceremony

Traditional dressed Peul men, Gerewol festival, courtship ritual competition among the Woodaabe Fula people, Niger, Africa

Dang community Gujarati dancer at Shilpgram, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India Copyright: xNxSharma/DinodiaxPhotox

Pokot women in the traditional beaded ornaments of their tribe sing outside the home of a pregnant woman in a blessing ceremony called Parpara. The sandals and sticks denote the numbers already in the house.

Benin, Ouidah, Atlantique Department. An Egungun masked dancer in brilliant sequined costume dances at a lively voodoo celebration. The dancers represent Yoruba ancestral spirits which give guidance to the living.

Masked dancer, The Kulamba Traditional Ceremony of the Chewa people from Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi, held annually on the last Saturday in August to pay homage to their Chief Kalonga Gaia Uni, held near Katete, Eastern Province, Zambia, Africa Copyright: IanxMurphy 1383-84 Editorial Use Only

Benin, Ouidah, Atlantique Department. An acrobatic dancer seemingly dressed as a woman at voodoo celebrations in Ouidah to mark the annual voodoo festival held in January each year. Ouidah is the spiritual center of Benin.

Mali, Near Bandiagara, Dogon Country, Bandiagara Escarpment, Traditonal Dogon Dance In Village

King Goodwill Zwelithini receives reeds from his daughters as symbols of their virginity. Zulu Reed Dance. eNyokeni Royal Palace. Nongoma. KwaZulu Natal. South Africa

The Chewa people, Malawis largest ethnic group, live on the west side of Lake Malawi. Despite years of missionary influence, they still cling to old beliefs and rituals. For them, death simply means a journey of rebirth into the spirit world.

Masked dancers, The Kulamba Traditional Ceremony of the Chewa people from Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi, held annually on the last Saturday in August to pay homage to their Chief Kalonga Gaia Uni, held near Katete, Eastern Province, Zambia, Africa

Africa, Malawi, The Chewa people, Malawi's largest ethnic group, live on the west side of Lake Malawi. Despite years of missionary influence, they still cling to old beliefs and rituals.

Benin, Ouidah, Atlantique Department. A man in female attire with a huge wooden phallus balanced on his head dances at voodoo celebrations in Ouidah to mark the annual voodoo festival held in January each year.

Mali, Near Bandiagara, Dogon Country, Bandiagara Escarpment, Traditonal Dogon Dance In Village

Group of Gudar Sadhus, holy men, walking in a row and collecting offered food from fellow sadhus, at the Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati, during Kumbha Mela festival, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

Africa, Benin, Cotonou. Close-up of dancer's feet during performance.

Africa, Malawi, The Chewa people, Malawi's largest ethnic group, live on the west side of Lake Malawi. Despite years of missionary influence, they still cling to old beliefs and rituals.

Ft. William , First Nations 2 day pow wow, for celebration and healing.

Gher dance of holi festival, Kavant, District Vadodara, Gujarat, India Copyright: xPhotochromy/DinodiaxPhotox

Africa, West Africa, Ghana, Kumasi. Ashanti men hold birght ceremonial umbrellas and drums as king enters Akwasidae Festival.

Masked dancer, The Kulamba Traditional Ceremony of the Chewa people from Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi, held annually on the last Saturday in August to pay homage to their Chief Kalonga Gaia Uni, held near Katete, Eastern Province, Zambia, Africa Copyright: IanxMurphy 1383-65 Editorial Use Only

Ethiopia, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples' Region, South Omo, Mursiland, Public debate (Tama) under shadow of big tree; Sholbi Village

Bison horn dancers, bastar, chhattisgarh, india, asia Copyright: xHarixMahidhar/DinodiaxPhotox

Japan, Tokyo, Meiji Shrine, Autumn Festival, Momoteshiki.

The Chewa people, Malawis largest ethnic group, live on the west side of Lake Malawi. Despite years of missionary influence, they still cling to old beliefs and rituals. For them, death simply means a journey of rebirth into the spirit world.

Rajastani camel at Shilpgram, Udaipur, Rajastan, India

Mali, Dogon Country, Tereli. A mask dance at the Dogon village of Tereli which is situated among rocks at the base of the spectacular 120-mile-long Bandiagara escarpment. The mask dance is performed at funeral ceremonies to appease the dead and speed them on their way to the ancestral world.

Bison horn dancers, bastar, chhattisgarh, india, asia Copyright: xHarixMahidhar/DinodiaxPhotox

Africa, Mali, Bandiagara, Dogon village, tribal harvest dance

Traditional Dinka wedding, Bor, central region, South Sudan, Africa Copyright: MichaelxRunkel 1184-11451 Editorial Use Only

Kenya, Kajiado District, Ol doinyo Orok. Gathering of Maasai warriors wait in line to be blessed by the elders during an Eunoto ceremony when the warriors become junior elders and permitted to marry.

Mothers rub animal fat into their sons cloaks to make them supple. This task is performed shortly before the boys set out on an arduous journey to collect sticks, staves and gum to make bows, blunt arrows and clubs after their circumcision.

Tribal King at Aboakyer Deer-Hunting Festival, Winneba, Ghana.

Benin, Ketou, Plateau Department. A masked dancer representing the male sex. The mask fits onto a dancer's head with his face covered by a veil.

Blanket-clad Samburu elders converse outside a lorara, a purpose-built circumcision encampment for boys. The elders meet frequently in the days leading up to their sons' circumcision to discuss the arrangements.

A day in a Maasai Village as guests to view thier way of living. the drinking of blood and milk mix.

West Africa, Benin. Close-up shot of Gelede Mask during traditional dance performance.

Mali, Dogon Country, Tereli. Masked stilt dancers wearing coconut shells perform at the Dogon village of Tereli. Tereli is situated among 120-mile-long Bandiagara escarpment.

JUJU DANCE, CAMEROON. Mount Oku, Bamenda Highlands. Juju dance for the environment. Dancers, dressed as forest animals, depict the destruction of the rainforest. .

Ukusefya pa Ng wena, a traditional ceremony of the Bemba people of Paramount Chief Chitimukulu of Kasama that chronicles their journey from Angola to Zambia, held annually in August, Kasama, Zambia, Africa Copyright: IanxMurphy 1383-51 Editorial Use Only

Sudan, People, 'The Acier, A Hollow Gourd Filled With Seeds Is Shaken To Summon Spirits.'

Kalbeliya folk dancers dancing at marwar festival Jodhpur Rajasthan India NOMR Copyright: xMohammedxSharif/DinodiaxPhotox

Tribal chief of the Yaka tribe, Mbandane, Congo, Africa

Singers at traditional African performance at Victoria Falls Hotel, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Africa

Caparisoned and Painted elephants, Dussera or Dasara festival in Mysuru or Mysore, Karnataka, India, Asia

Danafojura the oldest masquerade in Oyo Kingdom, performs inside a burning fire at the World Sango Festival which is an annual festival held among the Yoruba people in honor of Sango, a thunder and fire deity who was a warrior and the third king of the Oyo Empire after succeeding Ajaka his elder brother. The festival plays host to visitors from all over the country and followers from foreign countries. Oyo state, Lagos, Nigeria.

1970s SEVERAL WOMEN OF THE NDEBELE PEOPLE WEARING ARTFULLY DECORATED BLANKETS WITH STRAIGHT EDGE SYMBOLS NORTHEAST SOUTH AFRICA

Eritrea

Donga stick fight ceremony, Surma tribe, Tulgit, Omo River Valley, Ethiopia, Africa

In a small village, men dress as warriors and perform traditional dance while others play drums.; Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

EXTRAORDINARY RITUALS (2018).

For 2-3 months after their circumcision, Pokot boys sing and dance in a special seclusion camp while undergoing instruction from tribal elders. During this time, they must wear goatskins, conceal their faces with masks made from wild sisal (sansevieria) and carry bows with blunt arrows.

The Main Livestock Market; Lalibela, Ethiopia

Faith healer preparing medicines, Pentecostal community, Sehitwa, Botswana, Africa

View of Swazi musical and dance performance, Mantenga Cultural Village a traditional Eswatini settlement, Malkerns, Eswatini, Africa

Folk dancers in Dasara Dussera Dusera Festival at Kulasai Kulasekharapatnam near Tiruchendur, Tamil Nadu, South India, India, Asia

Mali, Dogon Country, Tereli. Masked stilt dancers wearing coconut shells as breasts perform at the Dogon village of Tereli. Tereli is situated among rocks at the base of the spectacular 120-mile-long Bandiagara escarpment. The mask dance is staged at funeral ceremonies to appease the dead and speed them on their way to the ancestral world.

Donga stick fighters, Surma tribe, Tulgit, Omo River Valley, Ethiopia, Africa

A group of red-clad Datoga people gather around water wells situated beside doum palms (Hyphaene coriacea) on the east side of Lake Manyara.,The Datoga (known to their Maasai neighbours as the Mang'ati and to the Iraqw as Babaraig) live in northern Tanzania and are primarily pastoralists.

West Africa, Benin. Close-up shot of Gelede Mask Dancer's musical anklets.

Australia. Aboriginies

Voodoo ceremony in Dogondoutchi, Niger, Africa

Mourning Himba women at a funeral, Omohanja, Kaokoland, Kunene, Namibia, Africa

Surma warriors getting ready for Donga ceremony Ethiopia

Masked dancers with snake, The Kulamba Traditional Ceremony of the Chewa people from Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi, held annually on the last Saturday in August to pay homage to their Chief Kalonga Gaia Uni, held near Katete, Eastern Province, Zambia, Africa Copyright: IanxMurphy 1383-77 Editorial Use Only

UkusefyapaNg'wena, a traditional ceremony held annually in August by the Bemba to chronicle their journey from Angola to Zambia, Bemba people of Paramount Chief Chitimukulu, Kasama, Zambia, Africa

Ghana, Music, Traditional Drummers

The Poojari or Pujari of Village guardian temple blessing the people during a village festival, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Africa, Kenya. Samburu tribesmen in silhouette.

Rock churches in Lalibela, pilgrims on the way to the rock church of St George, Bete Kiddus Georiys, Bete Ghiorgis Church, Ethiopia, Africa

Egypt

Kids dressed traditionally at the annual Sango festival in Oyo State, Nigeria.

Argungu, Nigeria - 15 February 2027: View of a vibrant mass of people, nets aloft, surge across the sun-baked earth in the Argungu Fishing Festival, a spectacle of motion and tradition.

Traditional welcome to guest, Santhal tribal, Dumka, Jharkhand, India Copyright: xDinodiaxPhotox

Africa, South Africa, Mpumalanga Province, KwaNdebele, Ndebele tribe, Mabhoko village, Ndebele church, Wilhemina Mahlangu and her friend John Mehio Mahlangu talking together at the entrance

Village women in tapa bark cloth dresses preparing to perform traditional sing sing Melanesian tribal dance in Morobe Bay, Papua New Guinea; Morobe Bay, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea

For two to three months after their circumcision, Pokot boys sing and dance in a special seclusion camp while undergoing instruction from tribal elders. During this time, they must wear goatskins, conceal their faces with masks made from wild sisal (sansevieria) and carry bows with blunt arrows.

ULTIMOS RETOQUES EN LOS ZANCOS Y ROPAS. Location: FIESTA. Anguiano. Rioja. SPAIN.

Panama, Creole Culture In Portobelo

Africa, Ethiopia, Southern Omo Valley, Nyangatom Tribe. Nyangatom men are decorated and dressed for a dance.

A model shoot with two young women in traditional dress and parasols with a small temple in the background in Bagan, Myanmar.

Whirling dervish during Zikr in Omdurman, Sudan.

Catholic priest watching a soccer game, Akata Djokpe, Togo, West Africa, Africa

Women in front of cross and bilum string bags, typical bags in PNG, Madang, Papua New Guinea, Melanesia, Oceania

Statues, Delhi, India

Benin, Ketou, Plateau Department. A masked dancer with the leopard symbol of Ketou carved on his mask. The mask fits onto the dancer's head with his face covered by a veil.

India, Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad. An itinerant flute-seller at the Kumbh Mela festival held here every twelve years.

Dedication ceremonies for the new Indian Memorial at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana, with Secretary Gale Norton, tribal representatives, and other political dignitaries participating

of 2