5 oldest secret societies in Africa you knew nothing about

Bridget Boakye June 22, 2018
Boys returning from their initiation in the Poro. Panguma, Sierra Leone (Photo: Sjoerd Hofstra, 1936)

Many people are obsessed with secret societies. For some, they explain the unthinkable. For others, secret societies actually control our lives, pulling the strings of politicians and the elite to yield unparalleled influence in the world.

In Africa, secret societies have a long history, with many of them long established before the onset of colonization. These societies have been alleged to play a significant role in the continent’s economic, political, and law enforcement.

Below are five of the oldest secret societies on the continent. This list is by no means exhaustive as some people have put a count to as many as 15 such groups. But these are some of the better researched, at least as well researched as secret societies can be.

Last Edited by:Nduta Waweru Updated: June 22, 2018

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