ktlight
16th May 2011, 10:29
In May 2005 Dr Credo Mutwa the great Sangoma (shaman) 'threw the bones' for me. The Litunga or great Emperor, King Mwanawina Lewanika of Barotseland, Northern Rhodesia/Zambia, where I had been privileged to enjoy my childhood, had presented these ancient and sacred ‘divining bones’ (an assortment of shells and carvings, etc) to Dr Mutwa. I had an overwhelming feeling of ‘these ‘bones’ come from my country’. I held my hands over the basket containing the ‘bones’, and then it was tipped out onto the floor.
Credo said that I knew much, and was to write a book and share my knowledge and wisdom with the world. I was also ordered by the bones to ‘tell the world the truth about those old countries’. For some time prior to this event, my inner voice, which I had disregarded, had been nudging me to write. Words within indeed needed to flow.
My Childhood in Central Africa
I grew up in the real Africa, the raw, wild and beautiful Africa, the Africa romanced in the minds of those day-dreaming about adventure. That Africa flows through my veins and my heart beats in rhythm with her pulse.
I was born in a town just outside of Johannesburg. I have little recall of that life. Most of my memories start when I was three years old, travelling up north by steam train. The train puffed through the spray of the Victoria Falls and headed on in the direction of the Congo. After four days we arrived in Mufulira, a Copperbelt town situated on the edge of the Congo pedicle in Northern Rhodesia.
On Copperbelt towns, the Africans outnumbered the Europeans by many thousands. Over weekends the glittering night sky was filled with the rhythmic tribal thumping of skin drums made from hollowed logs. When the drumming stopped, the night pulsed with silence. Those were the days when the strains of ‘In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight’, regularly came over the radio, and I felt the thrill and exuberance of living in Central Africa.
This book is written by someone whose eyes are wide open, whose mind remembers. She, in this book, describes an Africa that has gone away, like clouds passing over the land. Madam Linda brings out in this book a beauty that belonged to an Africa that used to be. This book speaks to the heart of the poet, the heart of the observer, the heart of the lover of nature, the heart of the lover of people.
This book is for those who want to understand Africa and look beyond the curtain to what once was. Be prepared to smile, be prepared to be angry, and be prepared to weep. This is a book that looks behind the scenes and records the events that affected millions of people of all tribes and races. There are those who want us to forget Africa's turbulent past. There are those who want us to forget the misery and bloodshed of this troubled, beautiful continent. Happy is the soul of the poet, who like this young lady, brings back the romance and the beauty that once was our country. This is a book for caring, thinking people. I cannot recommend this book more.
DR CREDO MUTWA
Africa’s highest sanusi (oldest form of traditional healer) and sangoma (diviner or priest).
source
http://www.lindasmith.co.za/
Credo said that I knew much, and was to write a book and share my knowledge and wisdom with the world. I was also ordered by the bones to ‘tell the world the truth about those old countries’. For some time prior to this event, my inner voice, which I had disregarded, had been nudging me to write. Words within indeed needed to flow.
My Childhood in Central Africa
I grew up in the real Africa, the raw, wild and beautiful Africa, the Africa romanced in the minds of those day-dreaming about adventure. That Africa flows through my veins and my heart beats in rhythm with her pulse.
I was born in a town just outside of Johannesburg. I have little recall of that life. Most of my memories start when I was three years old, travelling up north by steam train. The train puffed through the spray of the Victoria Falls and headed on in the direction of the Congo. After four days we arrived in Mufulira, a Copperbelt town situated on the edge of the Congo pedicle in Northern Rhodesia.
On Copperbelt towns, the Africans outnumbered the Europeans by many thousands. Over weekends the glittering night sky was filled with the rhythmic tribal thumping of skin drums made from hollowed logs. When the drumming stopped, the night pulsed with silence. Those were the days when the strains of ‘In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight’, regularly came over the radio, and I felt the thrill and exuberance of living in Central Africa.
This book is written by someone whose eyes are wide open, whose mind remembers. She, in this book, describes an Africa that has gone away, like clouds passing over the land. Madam Linda brings out in this book a beauty that belonged to an Africa that used to be. This book speaks to the heart of the poet, the heart of the observer, the heart of the lover of nature, the heart of the lover of people.
This book is for those who want to understand Africa and look beyond the curtain to what once was. Be prepared to smile, be prepared to be angry, and be prepared to weep. This is a book that looks behind the scenes and records the events that affected millions of people of all tribes and races. There are those who want us to forget Africa's turbulent past. There are those who want us to forget the misery and bloodshed of this troubled, beautiful continent. Happy is the soul of the poet, who like this young lady, brings back the romance and the beauty that once was our country. This is a book for caring, thinking people. I cannot recommend this book more.
DR CREDO MUTWA
Africa’s highest sanusi (oldest form of traditional healer) and sangoma (diviner or priest).
source
http://www.lindasmith.co.za/