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Bwiti Sacred Iboga Groves
Forests of Gabon (and adjacent Central Africa)
Gabon
Active (initiation ceremonies)
Regional cluster
- Location
- Forests of Gabon (and adjacent Central Africa)
- Coordinates
- ~0.4°S 11.6°E
- Elevation
- Equatorial lowland rainforest
- Size
- Groves within rainforest
- Age / Founded
- Ancient (Bwiti initiatory cult)
- Status
- Active (initiation ceremonies)
- Deity & Religion
- Ancestors & spirits accessed via sacred iboga (Tabernanthe iboga); Bwiti religion
- Community & Guardians
- Babongo, Mitsogo, Fang & other Gabonese practitioners
- Vernacular name
- Sacred iboga grove (Bwiti)
- Record type
- Regional cluster
Cultural practices & uses
Initiation, healing & ancestor-communion ceremonies; ethical iboga harvesting/replanting
Plant species
Tabernanthe iboga (cultural keystone species)
Biome & fauna
Congo-basin equatorial rainforest
Threats & protection
Iboga a protected national treasure (1990s legislation); commercialization/over-harvest threat; UNESCO ICH discussions
Source
Chacruna — Iboga Conservation; Bwiti House; Gabon iboga heritage legislation