Libation is performed, not “poured”

Abstract

Libation, as an ancient cultural and spiritual ritual, has been a universal practice amongst most cultures and civilisations across the globe since time immemorial. It is generally characterised by offering wine, food portions or other specified liquids with the intention of invoking and soliciting assistance from spirit beings. Similarly, in the Ghanaian context, libation is a form of prayer or ritual that follows a standard procedure. Unfortunately, many authors, in their definition, have sidelined the main purpose of libatory ritual, which is the verbal utterances to merely the drink/food offering; thereby eschewing the verbal recitals, which is the emphasis. This is a great misrepresentation of this cultural heritage and sacred ritual. It further undermines the essence of the protocols involved in the procedure. This ethnographic study brings clarity to the appropriate terminology for defining libation to suit the socio-cultural Ghanaian context. It underscores that libation is not merely the arbitrary pouring of liquid/food offering to spirit beings, but a scripted, directed and guided art and tradition which is meticulously performed.