A Pilgrimage to the Soul of Africa

Marina Aliverti's inaugural article for "Rekh Magazine" from her annual "pilgrimage" to Southern Africa is about local traditions concerning ancestors on the occasion of the All Saints' Day festival, which is celebrated on 1 November. Aliverti is an artist, photographer and author

Wax textiles in a postcard from Africa (Ph. Marina Aliverti)

By Marina Aliverti

Every year, my spirit calls me away for a couple of months—a fervent search for disorientation and profound renewal within the heart of Southern Africa. My journey unfolds across the majestic landscapes of Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. It is a cherished pilgrimage where I reunite with dear resident friends, lose myself in the tranquility of remote lodges, and find grounding within the warmth of local villages.

My camera becomes the eager witness to this world: it captures the untamed majesty of nature, the soulful gaze of its inhabitants, the wild grace of the animals, the vibrant chaos of the marketplaces, the intricate stories woven into the textiles, and the passionate pulse of local art.

This immersion is more than travel; it is a profound intimacy. It allows me to discover the rhythms of their lives—their habits, their deepest thoughts, their fervent desires, and their thrilling, age-old traditions. In this sacred exchange, I find a lost, vital equilibrium, a stability that the restless currents of the West increasingly threaten to destabilize. Southern Africa is not merely a place I visit; it is the true north of my soul's compass.

Ms Marina Aliverti and her partner, Paolo Solari Bozzi, in Africa (Ph. Marina Aliverti)

Inside African Spiritual Traditions

Ancestors fulfill critical social and cosmic roles, primarily serving as essential intermediaries between the distant Supreme Being and humanity. They function as the chief custodians of communal morality, with retribution for transgression manifesting typically in the present life (e.g., through illness or warning), rather than in an abstract eschatological future.

Achieving the revered status of a fully integrated ancestor is highly demanding, necessitating a virtuous life, the existence of descendants, and the execution of elaborate and proper funeral rites. This existential necessity compels families to engage in massive socio-economic investment, often spending the equivalent of a year’s median per capita income on an adult’s burial to secure both the deceased’s post-mortem status and the family’s social reputation, leading to the phenomenon of burying their dead "at all costs". This ancestral culture demonstrates powerful resilience, manifesting in vibrant syncretic practices and distinct cultural rituals, such as Ghana’s Abebuu Adekai and Madagascar’s Famadihana.

Terminological Precision and Foundational Philosophy

Accurate interpretation of African Traditional Religions (ATRs) requires acknowledging the profound diversity across the continent’s ethnic groups, while simultaneously avoiding the judgmental generalization of "Ancestor Worship". The distinction between "veneration" (respect, honour, and dialogue) and "worship" (sole adoration of a supreme deity) is critical, particularly when considering interactions with Christianity.

The foundational philosophical premise shared by many ATRs is the interconnectedness of the cosmos. Life is viewed not as a finite period followed by a sharp break, but as an ongoing process of formation and transformation. Funeral rites are, therefore, not symbolic but functional tools, viewed as necessary "equipment" required to facilitate the soul’s journey and ensure its intended destination. The failure to perform these rites has severe spiritual consequences.

The Modern Manifestation: Ghanaian Fantasy Coffins

Among the most distinctive contemporary customs concerning the cult of the dead are the Ghanaian "fantasy coffins," also known as Abebuu Adekai. These elaborate, custom-made caskets, shaped like fish, animals, or objects of daily life (e.g., a car), are designed to reflect the deceased's life, profession, or passions. A fish-shaped coffin, for example, is typically constructed for a fisherman.

This practice is a modern art form with roots in the Ga culture of coastal Ghana, emerging around the 1950s. While recalling the decorated coffins or cartonnage of Ancient Egyptian art, this tradition generates a deep social connection across several community strata. Families collaborate with specialised carpenters to create a coffin that precisely represents the deceased, using it as a final, deeply personal tribute.

© Copyright Rekh Magazine

The Author

Artist, Fashion & Jewellery Designer, Photographer, and Activist

Cernobbio (Lake Como, Italy) | Celerina (Switzerland)

An accomplished artist, designer, and environmental activist, Marina Aliverti is the Director of Filorosso.net , Creative Think Tank, and a recognized fashion rainmaker. Her work seamlessly bridges the worlds of high-fashion design and fine art, driven by a deep commitment to environmental themes, as seen in her photography and activist projects.

Artistic & Design Career

Marina Aliverti's career is defined by a deep-rooted connection to the creative process, evolving from world-class textile design to fine art and sustainable fashion initiatives:

• Fine Art & Photography: Embracing art and photography in a successive phase of her career, Marina has dedicated herself to raising global awareness about the beauty and fragility of our Planet. Her work as an environmental photographer and artist reflects a passion for grand journeys and a commitment to systemic interaction on complex topics, as demonstrated by her impactful cover design for the inaugural Rekh Magazine Papers issue.

• Fashion & Jewellery Design: Marina is a third-generation descendant of a Como-based entrepreneurial family, with her grandfather's founding three historical textile companies (Aliverti & Stecchini - 1921, I.S.I.S. - 1922, and Algesta - 1970s). This heritage provides her with a long-standing and unrivalled experience within Como’s extraordinary textile universe.

• Global Collaborations & Personal Lines: She has gained extensive design experience in Milan, Paris, London, Rome, and Florence, with an important track record of collaborations with top fashion players across textiles, clothing, accessories, sportswear, and jewellery (including Capucci, Colmar, YSL, Dior, Armani, Fürstenberg, Fiorucci, and Ferré).

• Entrepreneurship & Sustainable Projects: Drawing on her experience and entrepreneurial spirit, Marina developed and designed her own lines of prêt-à-porter (ALISEI and Marina Aliverti). More recently, she started the BackAgainShirts project, a luxury upcycling initiative that follows all production steps from start to finish, showcasing her dedication to sustainability.

Education

• Graduate of the renowned world-class Textile Design Institute in Como, Italy.