Zomaà- The Place where the Fire Does not Go
The tree of forgetfulness at Chacha Square in Wydah, Benin Republic.
A big part of our healing is coming to terms with what really happened to our ancestors and why we are here right now. A crucial part of this journey is overstanding Zomaà. In Ajãgbè, this word means "where the light/fire does not go". Founded by captor (“slave trader”) Francisco Félix de Souza. It is a place where the captured and yet to be held captive Afrikans were forcefully settled before being forced into ceremonies of departure for the slave lands of the Americas, Carribean Islands and even Europe. They were walked around the tree of oblivion/forgetting (presently Chacha square). It had already been the marking place of Afrikans to be sold on their way to the Americas and other slaving colonies. The idea was that after some rites they would make every captured Afrikan forget all memory of their past, family and culture after walking around it (7 times for women and 9 times for men). The mystical, however, evil rites that surrounded the stop and the tree itself were meant to destroy Afrikans’ will to react against their fate. Another reason for this "ritual" was to try to prevent the souls of these captive Afrikans from coming back to haunt these lands and get revenge. Well, that didn't work. Also, know that these evil rites were headed by the Daagbo (chief of all priests) of Wydah!
Very important note on the name:
Zo - fire. maà - negation, does not (have, possess). In Vodún, we say that the sɛ (soul) is made of a mystic fire.