Warrior Sciences University; African Warrior History Pt. 4 (Secret animal warrior societies)

Animal Warrior Societies of Ancient East & West Africa

The ancient African animal warrior societies were strictly guarded in their knowledge and only passed it on to future members. The guardians of these secret warrior societies held great power and responsibility being the gatekeepers they were. They were charged with the responsibility of being a guardian, preserving and passing on this immense power within their culture. The ancient animal warrior societies of course, stem back to ancient times, predating the advent of colonialism. During the time of colonial powers in Africa though, these secret warrior societies came together to fight European colonialization. The European establishment combated them by using slanderous prosecution. They accused these secret societies of witchcraft, cannibalism, human sacrifice, murder and other things. This was all to paint a barbaric picture of them…..propaganda…which would be a common tactic used against Africans and their descendants for times to come. They made numerous accusations towards these societies because of their mysterious nature and the fact they did not understand (or could decipher and destroy) them because they were held in tight secrecy.

The code of secrecy was very important in the ancient warrior societies. To break the chain of secrecy surely constituted death. The secrecy was maintained using a number of methods to keep out the uninitiated. These ranged from secret languages, passwords, hand signs and even ritual use of symbols. To someone who knew nothing of this, it was no way to learn it all unless taught. It seemed mysterious and all the layers of security were there to keep the traditions secret. Many different African societies used methods to protect their culture from others, from other Africans of different tribes and social groups to foreigners. An example would be the Greeks visiting the tombs in Egypt and seeing the martial arts on the walls. They took the techniques they saw on the tomb walls (leaving Greek graffiti marking movements) but could not understand the Medu Neters (hieroglyphs). So their fighting lacked the spiritual aspects that went with it that the ancients understood. Whats more about the Medu Neters is that, in many instances the knowledge in them or even their interpretation required advanced understandings only known to to those schooled or educated in their ways, further barring the uninitiated.

Knowledge of the animal warrior societies originally was believed to come down directly from the ancient warrior Gods to the priesthood and spiritual systems. They eventually developed into the Warrior Animal societies of East and West Africa. These powers from the Gods imbued the warrior with inhuman abilities of strength, speed, endurance and the abilities to take on the abilities of the warrior clans’ particular animal spirit. Drama (acting) was related to ancient warrior training and very integral. Theatrics were engaged in only during specific seasons of the year to harmonize with the forces of the universe. The focus was developing the concepts and principles of which the techniques originated, not the actual techniques themselves, as techniques were endless. Divine principles were used to unlock the warrior’s natural fighting consciousness embedded deep within. To tap in to that spiritual level and pull this power out. The warrior and man’s nature in general is a multitude of nine parts that come together as one.

These nine powers were the following;

Ka – Spiritual energy (Kemetic), in this instance though, it means “double energy or body”

Ba – The heart or soul, where you receive feelings

Ab – Mind or mental level, the source of intelligence

Khat – Your body physically, made of expression on the physical plane of existence (physical body)

Khabit – The shadow, the embodiment of reflection

Ku – Your body spiritually where your morality rests

Sahu – Your spiritual body in general, where your Ku spirit exists

Sekhem – Spiritual power

Ren – Considered “the name” it is the attribute that makes all others come into being

The power of the animals

In the ancient secret animal societies of Africa, they bought together the spirit of man (or the warrior to be precise) with nature to develop their clans animal fighting spirit. All the dancing, acting and other rites of passage were all used as ways of evoking the power and spirit of the animals. Besides the physical methods and actions, clothing and weapons were believed to empower were used too.. This sacred clothing could be the pelt of their ritual animal worn a particular way about the body. Things like the teeth, talons or claws could become special necklaces or bracelets and so forth. Sacred clothing was also sometimes used with sacred weapons such as daggers, knives, claws and so forth. Between the weapons and the warrior channeling the powers / attributes of their chosen animal, when they attacked their enemies on secret missions (like the Ninjitsu methods) the victim would look as if they had been decimated by that particular animal. Everything from claw and teeth marks to bloody animal paw prints would mark the scene of the incident. In preparation for a mission or battle, ritual meetings with other members, as well as sacred animal communication, was performed.

The methodology and science behind the lion societies serves as the perfect example. This society is seen as being related to royal (king) power. The lion’s mane is seen as the outer edge of the sun, with its emanating rays going outward. The lion is also respected, as well as being mighty and powerful, it is civilized in that it lives in a society with others of its kind (pack) and they each have jobs. The male served as a protector. Only the strongest and most elite of warriors in African society that were proven in battle could dawn (wear) the lions skin or pelt.

The mind, body and spirit connection with the animal spirits

The various organs of the body are like receptors of a divine nature. They are used to activate the animal powers within the individual. The Emi (spirit) could be activated by the will, of which the ancient ones even believed allowed transformation or the ability to shape shift into their clans chosen animal. The lion, snake, phoenix, ape, crocodile, panther and bull were some of the foremost animal energies. The lion was associated with aggressiveness and the solar fighting system. The lion had a very royal and king - like appearance and demeanor and was very strong and powerful as well as an aggressive combatant. The snake was supple and relaxed which lent to deadly speed as well as pliability when attacked or attacking. It could attack or defend from a variety of positions and had the potential to be very deceptive, explosive and deadly. The phoenix is the mythological bird which was reborn from its own ashes after dying. The ape was a very large and powerful monkey and ferocious fighter. It was similar to the lion, but its methods and technique / tactics were different. The ape would cry out at dawn as well as sunset which of course has deeper meaning as well. The crocodile is a descendant of the great dinosaurs and is a very powerful reptile that can attack with explosive power and motion and exert crushing force. In the waters of the swamp lands it is king, and feared by all. Able to be active on land or in the water, the crocodile transmutes the elements of water, air and more. The panther is the symbol of silent power and strength, and a well-known and powerful stealth killer. Its skin or pelt was worn by only the greatest warriors so they could get its strength. The bull is the animal of pure force and pressure and contains dominating power that overwhelms and crushes opponents.

Holistic approach of the ancient Africans

The ancient Africans were holistic in their approach to everything they did. This explains how they were masters of all sciences, from their knowledge of social sciences to warfare and spirituality. When it came to the warrior sciences or “martial arts” they were proficient in all ranges of fighting, though over time many cultures and tribes focused on certain sets of skills or tactics. This may be for purposes of combat in their terrain to their physicality, or because they used competition as a rite of passage and wanted it to be non-lethal for participants. They used many methods to fortify their skills like;

- Stance work

- Breath work or the “science of breath” which is where modern “combat breathing and other yogic practices come from

- Dancing, storytelling and drama / acting

- Combat skills in all ranges of empty hand and weapons fighting

- Rites of passage, warrior tenets and philosophy and mindset training

- Combat concepts and strategy

Holding stances, like how karate stylists held the horse stance for example, was first used in the African martial sciences / arts. They knew it built the will (willpower) as well as affected the chakras (points of spiritual energy) within the body. The more rooted you are in your stances, the more power you can draw from the earth, and the more power you can tap into and draw from the universe. Breath work or the science of breath can be used for many purposes, a focal one being generating or drawing energy (to be used infighting or healing). Control of breathing can be used to manipulate various organs of the body to achieve different things. Dancing, storytelling and drama were all apart of the rites of passage. Together these things taught the history and culture for the warrior in training and cultivated knowledge of self as well as many skills. For the young men and women who became warriors, combat skills were very important. Many fighting sciences of Africa were passed down from father to some, though in some warrior groups, they had female warriors as well. Skills passed down were highly guarded secrets of their respective tribe or cultural group.