In October, the weather begins to change, and the arrival of autumn brings a distinct beauty to the landscape. The trees adorn themselves in vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow, creating a picturesque scene that captivates the eye. The cool breeze whispers through the air, carrying with it a sense of tranquility and calm. Nature seems to be preparing for a period of rest, as animals scurry to gather resources before the winter months arrive. In some cultures, October is associated with various traditions and celebrations. A notable example is Halloween, which occurs on the last day of the month.
Dictionary of Cults, Sects, Religions and the Occult by George A. Mather and Larry A. Nichols, Zondervan Publishing House
Whether or not the writer attended the meeting, this letter s agenda as a calculated and deliberate assault on us who seek to embrace and integrate who we are as black people is obvious. Latin America, Brazil, Central America and Caribbean; West African religion; slaves; YORUBA and BANTU; eclecticism; ancestral spirits, gods and ANIMISM; ESHU; IFA; ELEGBA and SHANGO; BABALAO and PAPLOI; possessed by ORISHA.
A notable example is Halloween, which occurs on the last day of the month. People dress up in costumes, carve pumpkins into eerie jack-o'-lanterns, and indulge in sweet treats. Children go door-to-door, shouting "trick or treat" in search of candy.
Berkley Center
Living in Ghana has made me notice a few things about Americans. First, we like to pretend that we’re alone in the world. A lot of our public discourse and websites (I’m looking at you, Netflix) pretend that America, maybe Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Asia, are the only voices or actors in the world.
Second, we put up instructions and signs everywhere, as if no one will be around to give directions. In Ghana, the best way to figure out where to buy pens at the market isn’t to hunt down a directory or whip out a smart phone; it’s to start asking the banana sellers. If a stand runs out of spicy rice, they’ll tell each person who asks for rice for the next few hours that "emo asa" (the rice is finished), rather than hunt down a pen and paper and put up a sign, because they know that anyone who is curious can come and ask.
The third thing I’ve realized about Americans is that we’re superstitious. This third major realization came to me when I started looking into witchcraft beliefs in Ghana. Witchcraft shows up in most, if not all, of Sub-Saharan Africa, but its details and reception differ drastically from region to region. For example, Nigerian films about witchcraft are boring and confusing to Kenyans.
Despite this variation, when we talk about witchcraft we can broadly refer to it as "the ability to harm someone through the use of mystical power." As far as I can tell, Ghana, unlike the Central African Republic and some other nations, doesn’t have any laws against witchcraft. Ghana has a few refugee camps for those who have been "ousted" as witches and driven from their villages. In fact, there is a movement here to develop laws protecting those who have been accused of being witches. Unfortunately, accusations of witchcraft have led to major humanitarian crises in many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, and often older women and impoverished children are the major groups impacted.
Witchcraft is a cultural reality in Ghana, regardless of any scientific stance on its validity. Like fate, irony, luck, and karma, it addresses the why behind events, as opposed to the how. Why was this child struck by the falling coconut? Why did this particular man rise to power and wealth? Where I would attribute these things to luck, and many Americans would blame karma or fate—"It was meant to be," or, "He worked hard for it," some Ghanaians would look to some human agency. I guess that Americans like to think we’re alone. I’ve always been interested in how cultures construct and incorporate different, sometimes conflicting, parts of their mythos into a model to explain the world around them.
Since Christianity is a very visible and vocal part of Ghanaian culture (it’s not uncommon for “Are you a Christian?” to come up in the first five minutes of conversation and an invitation to someone’s service to come up in the first 20 minutes), I decided to look into how Christianity and witchcraft interact in the Ghanaian mythos.
On the surface, witchcraft and Christianity could appear as mutually exclusive belief systems, and they have certainly been interpreted as such historically. Looking at the animosity between European Christian missionaries in Africa and local belief systems during formal colonization efforts, you can see the two have definitely been pegged against each other.
Part of this collision may have its roots in the clashing political and cultural systems that came to be represented by the respective belief systems, but today the power struggles and social dynamics behind Christian reactions to witchcraft are not as clear. People are often more shocked that I don’t believe in witchcraft than that I am not religious, but I’ve heard Christian Ghanaians say although they believe in witchcraft, they don’t think that it can affect them—because they're Christian. Many who believe in both witchcraft and Christianity see their faith as offering protection against witchcraft.
Indeed, the Pentecostal church in Ghana has made the fight against witchcraft a major theme in their doctrine. They preform ceremonies to help cleanse former witches and draw strong parallels between witchcraft and the Christian devil. On the other hand, there are Christian aid groups in Northern Ghana working for the rights and well-being of those in witch camps.
In short, witchcraft—much like luck or individualism—is not a simple remnant of an old religion, but an adaptive component of modern culture.
It is a time of merriment and playful mischief. The term "ndgic white shi shi" may not have a specific meaning or reference. It could be a combination of unrelated words. However, it is important to note that communication and language continually evolve, and new words and phrases are introduced regularly. It is possible that "ndgic white shi shi" could be a modern slang term or an abbreviation used by a particular group or community. October is a month of transition, where nature transforms and prepares for the colder months ahead. It is a time of celebration and festivity, where traditions are observed and cherished. Whether it be in the vibrant colors of the changing leaves or the excitement of Halloween, October holds a special place in the hearts of many..
Reviews for "The Significance of White Shi Shi Masks in October Celebrations"
1. John - 1/5
I found "October ndgic white shi shi" to be a complete waste of time. The plot was confusing and lacked coherence. The characters were shallow and poorly developed, making it difficult to care about their actions or motivations. The writing style was overly pretentious, with unnecessary metaphors and convoluted sentences that only served to confuse the reader. Overall, I was extremely disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to anyone.
2. Sarah - 2/5
I had high hopes for "October ndgic white shi shi" based on the positive reviews, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The story had potential, but the execution was lacking. The pacing was inconsistent, with lengthy, drawn-out descriptions of insignificant details while important plot points were rushed through. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to connect with the characters. Additionally, the ending was unsatisfying and left too many loose ends. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and would not read it again.
3. Laura - 2/5
I struggled to get through "October ndgic white shi shi" as I found the writing style to be overly flowery and self-indulgent. The author seemed more concerned with showcasing their vocabulary than telling a compelling story. The excessive use of metaphors and abstract descriptions made it challenging to understand what was actually happening. Additionally, the characters felt one-dimensional, lacking depth and personality. While I appreciate experimental writing styles, this book missed the mark for me and left me feeling frustrated and confused.