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This is a ceremony observed on the last Wednesday of the month of Jumbenteh, which Muslims consider as the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad. This year’s ceremony took place in Kabala in the Koinadugu District, north of the country.
The traditional leaders told AYV newspaper that Jumbenteh should be celebrated in the society bush, where they gather more leaves to bring them healing powers.
The change leaf ceremony, according to the Chief of Mandae, Musa Yira Koroma, started in Sierra Leone by the Koromas some 400 years ago.
He revealed that it had been the tradition of their association to be in the society bush once every year in order to acquire more powers.
The Chief of Mandae further explained that in the bush, they learn more about their traditional practices.
First President of the Mandae Traditional Healers Association, Sheku Tarawally, who currently presides over the Council of Traditional Healers, warned traditional healers before entering the society bush to desist from harmful traditional practices; now that the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak has been defeated.
He called on herbalists and magicians to focus on positive things that can help move the people and country forward.
Umaru Siseco, a member of the Council of Traditional Healers told told AYV newspaper that with the end of the EVD war, traditional healers are determined and ready to join government in any other fight to promote development in the country.
