The Tromba, or cult of possession, is a ceremony where the spirits of the royal ancestors of the great tribe of the Sakalava are invoked by the living.
Faith in the survival of the soul of the dead is not only a belief in the Malagasy. It is a true culture with what it implies of us and customs, rituals and folklores. The “ tromba” (or the manifestation of the survival of the royal ancestors) is one of the traditional rites that we still practice today. Through the mediums, the deceased kings send messages to their descendants or to the whole country.
The phenomenon « tromba »
"Tromba" is an ancestral custom that the populations of the Northwest of Madagascar , from Imerina and South, still practice to date. Usually, it takes place in the evening, outdoors or in a specific place dedicated to this effect. Anyone can attend. The main actors are musicians whose rhythms of drums and accordions promote the transe of mediums. Assistance may be one or more family lines or a whole tribe. Throughout the ceremony, the complete silence is required from the spectators.
The tromba always starts with slow or plaintiff music sounds and then clogged. At first, the mediums sitting on the ground, in the middle of the assistance, appear elsewhere. They focus. As the pace accelerates, they change behaviour. Then, they convulse themselves and move like horror movie actors. Afterwards, they no longer manage their bodies. Their eyes are turned around and their voices are gradually transformed to exactly resemble those of the dead(s) who live them. There are short or long messages issued by the elders.
A medium can be inhabited by one or more minds. Sometimes a succession of voices of men or women, children or adults come out of their mouths during the trove ceremony.
Messages issued during the tromba
The followers of the tromba believe that the messages issued by the mediums really emanate from the dead to whom they worship. Whether it's beautiful words, messages of predilection or warnings, it's not worth transgressing them. The deceased issued them and we have to respect them. The souls of the dead continue to survive and they manifest themselves through the tromba. Even if they are no longer among the living, they still care about their descendants and their loved ones. They are concerned about the future of their compatriots and their country. Therefore, it is essential to consult with the deceased from time to time through the tromba to ask for advice.
Main photo credit: nocomment.mg
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