The term Mέŋī Sī, literally defined as mothers of God or of the earth, is a title of nobility. There is a difference between the title Mέŋī and that of Mέŋī Sī. The former is automatically, and without any prior initiation, attributed to any woman who has given birth to twins, while the latter is a title held by mothers of twins who have performed the Nkāŋ/sī rite (Achegui 2024). It is at the end of this rite that the Mέŋī is knighted with the title Mέŋī Sī and introduced into the sisterhood dedicated to them. Called Lūŋ Mέŋī Sī (the association of mothers of the earth or of God) or simply Sī (God or earth), this brotherhood is based at the chiefdom under the coordination of the chief. The Mέŋī Sī are priestesses who distil peace. They ensure the blessing, pacification and fertilisation of the earth and its people through various rites. They also officiate as priestesses for the initiation of new mothers of twins into the Nkāŋ/sī rite. Composed mainly of women who have already participated in this rite or their successors, it is led by a leader recognised as the descendant of the first woman to give birth to twins in the chiefdom. The Mέŋī Sī are distinguished by their attributes, namely a Nkeŋ rod, a Mechet basketry castanet and a raffia handbag.
Le terme Mέŋī Sī définie littéralement par mères de Dieu ou de la terre, est un titre de noblesse. Il existe une différence entre le titre Mέŋī et celui de Mέŋī Sī. Le premier est automatiquement, et sans aucune initiation préalable, attribué à toute femme ayant mis au monde des jumeaux/ jumelles, tandis que le second est un titre que portent les mères de jumeaux/jumelles, ayant exercé le rite Nkāŋ/sī (Achegui 2024). En effet, c’est à l’issue de ce rite que la Mέŋī est adoubée du titre Mέŋī Sī et introduite dans la confrérie qui leur est dédiée. Appelée Lūŋ Mέŋī Sī (l’association des mères de la terre ou de Dieu) ou tout simplement Sī (Dieu ou terre), cette confrérie siège à la chefferie sous la coordination du chef. Les Mέŋī Sī sont des prêtresses distillatrices de paix. Elles veillent à la bénédiction, à la pacification et à la fécondation de la terre et des personnes à travers divers rites. Elles officient également comme prêtresses pour l’initiation de nouvelles mères de jumeaux au rite Nkāŋ/sī. Composée essentiellement de femmes ayant déjà participées à ce rite ou de leur successeur-e, elle est dirigée par une leadeuse reconnue comme la descendante de la première femme ayant mis au monde des jumeaux dans ladite chefferie. Les Mέŋī Sī se distinguent par leurs attributs, soit une tige de Nkeŋ, la castagnette en vannerie dit Mechet et le sac à main en raphia.
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