【非洲·塞内加尔】塞内加尔谢列尔语民族的占卜仪式 Xooy, a divination ceremony among the Serer of Senegal（2013年）

Xooy占卜仪式在雨季之前在塞内加尔中西部塞勒社区的村庄广场举行。在这场漫长的夜间聚会中，被称为Saltigues的大师预言家们依次进入指定的圆圈，在那里他们在兴奋的观众面前，伴随着鼓声的节奏进行预测。Xooy仪式为社区提供了关键问题的答案，如降雨、瘟疫或疾病，以及补救措施。Saltigues充满活力的服装、歌舞、谚语和谜语的结合创造了一个丰富多彩的仪式，充满戏剧性，因为这些主持仪式的牧师——沟通艺术的大师——一直让观众悬而未决，直到天亮。Xooy是国家文化日历上的一项重大活动，是表达和展示Serer文化遗产的特权论坛。Saltigues是Xooy的活媒介，保存并传播对仪式至关重要的深奥知识。他们还负责人与人、至高无上的存在、自然和精灵之间的调解，调节社会，确保男女及其环境之间的和谐。凭借对植物的了解，他们还提供传统疗法来减轻痛苦。

2013年度列入人类非物质文化遗产名录。

来源：联合国教科文组织亚太地区非物质文化遗产国际培训中心

The Xooy divination ceremony is organized in village squares among the Serer community in west-central Senegal prior to the rainy season. During this long nocturnal gathering, master seers known as Saltigues each in turn step into a designated circle, where they deliver predictions before a rapturous audience accompanied by the rhythm of drums. The Xooy ceremony provides answers to key issues for the community such as the rains, plagues or illnesses, and remedies. The combination of the Saltigues’ vibrant clothing, songs and dances, proverbs and riddles creates a colourful ceremony, high on drama, as these officiating priests – masters of the art of communication – hold the audience in suspense until daybreak. The Xooy is a major event in the national cultural calendar and constitutes a privileged forum for the expression and presentation of Serer cultural heritage. The Saltigues are the living mediums of the Xooy and preserve and transmit the esoteric knowledge that is vital to the ceremony. They are also in charge of interceding between people, the Supreme Being, nature and genies, regulating society, and ensuring harmony between men, women and their environment. With their knowledge of plants, they also provide traditional therapies to alleviate suffering.

Included in the list of human intangible cultural heritage in 2013.

Source: UNESCO International Training Center for intangible cultural heritage in the Asia Pacific Region