Awakening of Memory – Traditional Southern African Steam Ritual One-day Experience

Join us for this special day of ritual with Colin Campbell, whose practice aims to take people of all nations into a restored and reconnected relationship with the wider natural world.

Colin guides us through the steam ritual – a contemporary adaptation of an ancient Southern African tradition once widely practiced among nomadic and preindustrial communities. It served as a communal act of cleansing and purification, as well as a sacred means of marking significant social or spiritual occasions.

While the ritual centres on the use of heat and the generation of steam, its deeper potency arises from the combination of collective chanting and the infusion of traditional medicinal plants into the steam itself. Each ritual is shaped by its intention (most commonly used for healing, renewal or celebration) with specific chants and herbal preparations chosen to align with the purpose and desired effect of the gathering.

The day includes introductions to the steam ritual by Colin, preparation practices and ends with a shared meal and stories around the fire.

KFBG 70th Anniversary – Awakening of Memory

The Steam Ritual one-day experience is part of the celebrations marking the special occasion of KFBG’s 70th anniversary. It integrates a wider series of activities curated to deepen our connection with the Earth.

Guided by the theme ‘awakening of memory’, these gatherings call us to remember our place within the greater community of beings. This anniversary is an invitation  to return, to remember and to share the stories that bind us to this living landscape of KFBG’s mountain and the Earth itself. It is about how we live in the present and the future we shape together – deepening the dialogue between people and nature, and carrying this shared legacy forward in an ever-changing world.

About the Teacher

Colin Campbell 

As a descendant of Scottish aristocracy, born in Zimbabwe (1963) and trained by some of the most renowned African healers of Southern Africa, Colin Campbell has become known for being a knowledge-bridge between rare pre-industrial African culture and contemporary Western culture.

As a child, Colin travelled through Africa with his father, Alec Campbell, a celebrated cultural historian and archaeologist. From the age of seven, he was introduced to some of the most powerful African healers and magicians in Botswana, who instantly recognised the boy’s calling as a healer and accepted him as a student. Colin experienced and integrated ancient aspects of traditional African knowledge through the rigorous rituals and training from his teachers. This resulted in a deep understanding of animism and its inextricable connection to the natural world.

Through his in-depth knowledge of African culture, Jungian psychology and contemporary artistic practice, Colin has cultivated a uniquely authentic personal philosophy that he has developed into wilderness-based practices. His practices aim to take people of all nations into a restored and reconnected relationship with the wider natural world.

Event Details

Date: 15 March 2025 (Sunday)

Time: 14:00 - 20:30 with dinner

Note: During the steam ritual, participants will change into comfortable, wet-friendly outfits. 

Venue: Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden

Language: English

Target Audience: Aged 18 or above

Fee: HK$1,200 per person, including guided sessions, vegetarian dinner and refreshment

Application: CLICK HERE

• Please submit your online application form on or before 8 March 2026 (Sunday).

• Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Payment is not refundable after acceptance, unless the programme is cancelled due to inclement weather.

  
  

Enquiry:

Please send an email to Ms Jamie Ngai (Education Department) at jamie.ngai@kfbg.org

Terms & Conditions:

Upon submission of your application and payment, you are deemed to have accepted all Terms and Regulations of this retreat, and the guidelines below:

KFBG Visitor Guidelines

In case of any dispute, the organiser has the right to the final decision.