01
The village of Tsango
Tsango is the village of Master Assossa, who comes from a long line of Puvi pygmy healers from the Kulamutu region.
It is a beautiful piece of land, about the size of half a football pitch, lying between two arms of the sea, in the mangrove. The neighbourhood is very calm and kind, far from the hassles of the city.
You reach this haven of peace by walking across a large felled tree, which lets you get to the village at rising tide. A way of inviting you to discover a place like no other.
The family has lived here for ten years now. The village is made up of several buildings, one of which will be entirely yours, for the peace you will need — shared or not with other bandzis (those who come to be initiated).
There is always a spot or two dedicated to wood-fire cooking. You will taste all the specialities of Gabon, but flavours from around the world can also be found.
Respect and discipline come first. There are always children playing outside school hours, a few chickens and sheep, and everyone in the village takes part in the tasks that keep the necessary harmony.
02
The corps de garde and the Bwenze
In the middle of the grounds stands the corps de garde, where the night ceremonies take place: a large shelter with a low roof, which you can see in the photos.
At the far end, near the arm of the sea, lies the Bwenze, a hidden courtyard where the men gather to talk after the ceremonies, or early in the morning to exchange a few words.
Women and men in initiation are sometimes invited there for treatments such as the ifoulou, the pygmy sweat hut — and many other surprises.
03
The initiation ritual
The mat
It is a return to the state of a newborn.
During this day and this night, you will face your life and the lives of your ancestors, and dive into the depths of your mind. The ritual follows a code as old as the world.
You are surrounded, protected, listened to: this is your moment. You remain under close watch throughout the night ceremony, even to go to the toilet.
The night unfolds to the sound of the mogongo, the pygmy mouth bow, the world's first jaw harp, whose sound is considered therapeutic by the scientists of our world.
Then, during the day, you rest and listen to the elders' sacred eight-string harp. You will discover how the knowledge of the world is passed on and transformed.
The people around Assossa are kind and respectful. Your requests and questions are taken into account at every moment. Remember that you are the conductor: you need to express yourself in detail — this is the foundation of bwiti and of the healing itself.
- Express what is buried deepest within us
- Speak about your deepest fears and traumas so they can resurface, be released and be resolved
- Make peace with yourself
Afterwards, you can progress through the stages of bwiti, or move on to other experiences.
04
Mokombo, the scribe of Tsango
You will also meet a being named Mokombo: "the one who goes around", and the one who seats the spirits, the kombos — the names given to each person during bwiti rituals.
Mokombo has used a wheelchair since he was young; he once walked. He is the scribe of Tsango: for several years he has been writing the world's first Puvi (pygmy language) – French dictionary, in a few notebooks carefully kept away from the rain and, as far as possible, from the humidity.
The dictionary is on its way to publication.
05
How it began
You will be well looked after.
I have personally known this open-air hospital since 2017. From the very first day, I have felt safer and more welcome there than anywhere else in the world: partly because its people are truly honest and humanly accomplished, and partly because it is a strangely peaceful place.
But reality is worth more than a thousand words.
I have been initiated into this tradition since 2009, and I met Master Assossa in 2018, after a congress of the five primitive nations in Strasbourg and the kind of encounters only life and dreams can bring about. Since then we have been moving forward together in this project of kindness and liberation that binds us all to one another.
We already wish you all a warm welcome for your stay.
Di kombos bokaye — Basse
06
Stay and prices
Basic initiation — €1,500
- Pick-up from Libreville airport, by taxi or in the host's private car
- One day and one night of initiation
- Ten days of rest in the village
Deposit: €500, collected 10 days before your flight. €300 of this amount is non-refundable; the remaining €200 may be refunded depending on the timing and reasons for cancellation.
Paid by the initiate: visa, spring water and personal expenses.
Reduced rates for groups.
