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How was dance used in the Hausa Bori cult and the Jukun Ajun society?

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rock painting of a dance performance — African dance Rock painting of a dance performance, Tassili-n-Ajjer, Alg., attributed to the Saharan period of Neolithic hunters (c. 6000–4000 bc).

In many African cultures, dance serves as a vital tool for therapy and spiritual healing, functioning within ritual societies to address physical and psychological well-being.1

The Hausa Bori Cult

Among the Hausa people, women utilize dance as a primary method for achieving healing. Within the Bori cult, dance is inextricably linked to spirit possession, providing a therapeutic outlet for participants.1

The Jukun Ajun Society

The Jukun of Nigeria employ a similar therapeutic approach through their Ajun society. Elders within this organization address hysterical disorders in women by performing exorcisms of evil spirits during initiation ceremonies.1

The healing process involves a three-month period spent in a house shrine, where the sufferer is taught specific songs and dances. This training culminates in a public ceremony where the initiate joins other society members to perform the Ajun-Kpa dance, marking the completion of the therapeutic ritual.1