The effect is to make the dancer appear unnaturally tall, confirming the belief that he is a supernatural spirit. Common major rituals used by these tribes and others are rituals of myth, fertility, funerals, ancestor cults, and initiations. Mythological animals, heroes, and the moon are represented in these rituals. Fertility and increase of humans, animals, or the earth are among the most vital concerns of the African. The African depends intensely upon harmony with nature and his gods, versus our modernized Western culture.
Fertility also plays a part in agriculture and burial ceremonies.
The agricultural festivities are celebrated periodically throughout the different stages of the growing season, from clearing the land to filling the food stores. The basic concept is the sacredness of the soil which they believe belong to the ancestors. A successful harvest depends on the benediction of these ancestors or upon the good will of the goddess of the earth. The African Cult of Death Funeral rites or death cult practices, especially those dedicated to the survival of the soul, are among the most widespread rituals in the world. These cults are related to a wide variety of extremely important occurrences, such as the fertility of the earth, its animals and human beings, and the cult of ancestral spirits.