She say Fon people keep a spirit tree and it always be a Baybob. Your granny-mauma wrapped the trunk with thread she begged and stole. She took me out there and say, 'We gon put our spirits in the tree so they safe from harm.' We kneel on her quilt from Africa, nothing but a shred now, and we give our spirits to the tree. She say our spirits live in the tree with the birds, learning to fly. She told me, 'If you leave this place, go get your spirit and take it with you.' We used to gather up leaves and twigs from round the tree and stick 'me in pouches to wear at our necks.
by Sue Monk Kidd (0 Reviews)
In "The Invention of Wings," a character recounts a profound tradition among the Fon people involving a spirit tree, typically a Baobab. The grandmother figure teaches the protagonist about this sacred tree, emphasizing its importance for safeguarding their spirits. With a thread she collected through difficult means, she binds the trunk and leads the protagonist in a solemn ritual where they kneel on a quilt from Africa and offer their spirits to the tree, believing it provides protection and connection with their heritage.
The act of giving their spirits to the tree becomes a significant ritual, as they envision their spirits living alongside the birds, learning to soar. The grandmother instructs that if the protagonist ever leaves, they must reclaim their spirit to take it along. This ritual underscores the deep connection to one's roots and the importance of carrying a sense of identity and belonging, even when physically distant from home. The gathering of leaves and twigs to carry as charms adds a tangible aspect to their spiritual beliefs, linking them to their ancestry.
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