HomeOld_PostsReclaiming our African spiritual independence: Part Four

Reclaiming our African spiritual independence: Part Four

Published on

TODAY we shall examine more dimensions of our African spirituality.
The aim is to develop a better understanding of who we are spiritually.
With the right information we will be better able to defend our spirituality. This is particularly important as Western Christianity has relentlessly demonised all things African: Our culture, our foods, our religion.
To counter the demonisation of African religion and culture, it is important that we provide readers with facts about the African spiritual existence.
With correct information we will be able to stand proud and defend our spiritual independence and sovereignty as Africans.
We again reiterate that like all living things we are connected to our Creator through our ancestral lines. When we die our spirits join the spirit world.
The African understanding of how the spirit world functions is a fascinating subject. To avoid being philosophical we shall describe various aspects of our spiritual world as they are understood by ordinary Africans.
There are the ‘free’ spirits of people who died a long time ago, who wander around and may seek to possess persons with no relationship to them. They are referred to as ‘mashavi’ or ‘shavi’ for one.
In many cases the ‘shavi’ spirit covets (kuchiva) a particular living person and decides to use him/her as its medium.
Typically the person targeted to become a spirit medium may fall sick. Attempts to have the person treated are often unsuccessful.
Many Africans who have been taught to reject their African roots by Western Christian beliefs enter a state of denial.
They refuse to accept that their relative or child is being possessed by a spirit. Some will find ways of casting out what they consider an evil spirit. Where the spirit is that of a family member those attempts do not succeed.
Family members will consult several spirit mediums or other people with divining powers. If spirit possession is indicated, they will ask that the spirit be identified: Is it the spirit of a dead relative, ‘mudzimu’ or that of a stranger, ‘shavi’?
Once the identity of the spirit is established, relatives will not rush to accept the spirit.
They will want to know the character and life history of the spirit that is seeking to possess their relative.
The person who is the candidate for spirit mediumship is also consulted.
Particularly important is the need to establish if the spirit is ‘clean’ in the sense of not being a witch, a murderer or some other undesirable character.
It will also need to be established that the spirit is not accompanied by other undesirable or evil spirits.
This vetting process will require visits to several reputable spirit mediums or diviners. As with all genuine verification processes, a minimum of three independent opinions will be sought before relatives accept a particular position.
In the case of ‘free’ spirits not related to the family, a decision may be taken in consultation with the potential medium, to reject the approach of the strange spirit. In such cases appropriate rituals will then be conducted to ‘chase away’ the spirit itself or others that may want to ride on its back to also use the same medium.
The point being emphasised here is that there is due process before a spirit is accepted.
In some cases even if a spirit belongs to a family member, the family may reject it for various reasons. These include death in unclear circumstances e.g. a murder victim will be considered to be ngozi spirit.
Such a spirit may demand restitution. In any case they can no longer qualify to be a family mudzimu, continued illness of the candidate spirit medium or as previously indicated other spirits that come with it may not be clean.
In the next episode we shall continue to explore the various dimensions of African spirituality. We shall look at some of the categories of spirits that are recognised. We shall also examine how some ‘free’ (non-dzinza) spirits come to possess specific people and how some spirits assume animal-like characteristic behaviour.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest articles

The resurgence of Theileriosis in 2024 

THE issues of global changes, climate change and tick-borne diseases cannot be ignored, given...

Britain haunted by its hostile policy on Zimbabwe

TWO critical lessons drawn from the recent debate on Zimbabwe in the British House...

The contentious issue of race

 By Nthungo YaAfrika AS much as Africans would want to have closure to many of...

Musician pens seven books

By Fidelis Manyange CHITUNGWIZA-based musician, known in music circles as Gaban Kufemamoto Chebani Chedondo Chegwenzi...

More like this

The resurgence of Theileriosis in 2024 

THE issues of global changes, climate change and tick-borne diseases cannot be ignored, given...

Britain haunted by its hostile policy on Zimbabwe

TWO critical lessons drawn from the recent debate on Zimbabwe in the British House...

The contentious issue of race

 By Nthungo YaAfrika AS much as Africans would want to have closure to many of...

Discover more from Celebrating Being Zimbabwean

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading