If you are thinking about embarking on a journey to meet Iboga, it’s essential to gather knowledge and insights from various sources. While reading books and articles can provide valuable information, sometimes, visual storytelling through Iboga movies and documentaries can offer a unique perspective and a deeper understanding of the subject. In this blog post, we will explore some of the top Iboga movies to watch if you’re considering trying Iboga as a path to healing and personal transformation.
1. “Iboga Nights” (2014)
“Iboga Nights” is a thought-provoking documentary that delves into the use of ibogaine in addiction treatment. The film follows the stories of six individuals struggling with addiction to substances like heroin, cocaine, and methadone. Their journey to overcome these addictions with the help of ibogaine is both enlightening and challenging. The documentary also explores the legal and ethical dilemmas surrounding ibogaine treatment, making it a must-watch among Iboga movies for those considering this form of therapy.
2. “Ibogaine: Rite of Passage” (2013)
“Ibogaine: Rite of Passage” takes you on a journey with an American heroin addict who seeks an alternative path to recovery in Mexico through ibogaine treatment. The film features interviews with former addicts, ibogaine facilitators, and experts who share their perspectives on the potential and controversy of ibogaine as a treatment for addiction. The documentary offers a comprehensive view of the challenges and promises of ibogaine, making it a significant entry among Iboga movies.
3. Synthetic Ibogaine – Natural Tramadol – Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia S03E04 (2021)
Hamilton Morris investigates how tramadol, a synthetic opioid, was found in iboga, a natural plant that is used by the Bwiti culture in Gabon for spiritual and healing purposes. He travels to France and Gabon to meet with scientists and shamans who study and use iboga and ibogaine, a psychedelic substance that can help people overcome addiction. He also witnesses an initiation ceremony where a young man named Jean-Paul tries to quit tramadol with the help of iboga. Hamilton explores the mystery and the potential of this sacred plant, as well as the challenges and risks involved in its use.
4. “Initiation” (2016)
“Initiation” provides an immersive glimpse into the initiation rites of the Bwiti culture in Gabon, where Iboga is used as a sacrament to connect with ancestors and gain profound insights. The film follows Mallendi, a young healer, and his spiritual father as they guide a group of initiates through a five-day ceremony involving music, dance, fasting, and Iboga ingestion. This documentary provides a window into the spiritual and transformational aspects of Iboga and deserves its place among Iboga movies.
5. “Of Night and Light: The Story of Iboga and Ibogaine (2023)
“Of Night and Light: The Story of Iboga and Ibogaine” is a documentary that traces the history of ibogaine, a molecule derived from Iboga with anti-addictive properties. It explores the molecule’s discovery by Howard Lotsof in 1962 and its current status as a Schedule I substance in the U.S. The film features interviews with scientists, activists, and patients who share their experiences and insights on ibogaine, making it a must-see among Iboga movie. Get updates on release date here.
6. “Ibogaine: Cure for a Crisis” (2018)
“Ibogaine: Cure for a Crisis” investigates the use of ibogaine as a potential solution for the opioid crisis that claims thousands of lives each year. The documentary features powerful testimonies from individuals who have successfully overcome addiction with ibogaine. Experts also shed light on the science and politics behind this controversial treatment, making it a significant entry among Iboga movies. The film unveils the barriers and dangers that hinder the wider acceptance of ibogaine..
7. “The Twelve” (2019)
“The Twelve” is a documentary that brings together twelve elders from various indigenous cultures around the world. These wise elders share their messages of hope, healing, and harmony for the planet and its people. This documentary features late Master Atome Ribenga who is a Bwiti Nima from Gabon. The film also highlights their efforts to preserve their traditions and cultures in the face of modern challenges, making it an essential inclusion among Iboga movies.
8. “Iboga, Les hommes du bois sacré” (2018)
“Iboga, Les hommes du bois sacré” is a french documentary that explores the use of Iboga in the initiation ceremonies of the Bwiti culture. The documentary follows a young healer and his spiritual father as they participate in a ritual that involves ingesting Iboga root. It also delves into the medical and scientific interest in Iboga and its alkaloid ibogaine, making it a noteworthy choice among Iboga movies. This documentary is only available in French.
9. “Bwiti Renascence of the Healed” (2017)
“Bwiti Renascence of the Healed” offers an in-depth look at a traditional Bwiti healing ritual in Gabon among Iboga movies. The film showcases how a group of initiates undergoes a transformative five-day ceremony involving music, dance, fasting, and Iboga root consumption. This ancient practice is presented as a means of overcoming traumas and emerging as renewed beings.
10. I’m Dangerous with Love (2010)
I’m Dangerous with Love” is a documentary chronicling the daring expedition of one man into the realm of shamanic rituals. Dimitri Mugianis, a 20-year heroin addict, finds salvation through a single dose of ibogaine.
Filmmaker Michel Negroponte, known for works like “Methadonia” and “Jupiter’s Wife,” immerses himself in the ibogaine subculture. Over three years, he shadows Dimitri as he guides drug users through the same detox process that rescued him from addiction. The catch? Ibogaine remains an illicit substance in the U.S. When Negroponte personally ventures into the world of ibogaine, he encounters firsthand its mind-expanding potential to ‘break open the head.'”
11. “Dosed” (2020)
In “Dosed 1,” the documentary follows the story of Adrianne, a woman grappling with depression, anxiety, and opioid addiction. After years of failed prescription medications, she turns to illegal psychedelic medicine, such as magic mushrooms and Iboga, to heal herself. The film illustrates how these substances can help break the cycle of addiction and restore mental health, as well as the challenges and risks involved in obtaining and using them.
As you consider the potential of Iboga for healing and personal transformation, exploring these Iboga movies and documentaries can offer you valuable insights and perspectives. Watching these Iboga movies will not only provide you with a deeper understanding of Iboga but also spark meaningful conversations and reflections on the path to healing and self-discovery.
If you feel called to the medicine and would like to join a traditional Bwiti ceremony, you can find out more about the retreats we organise here .