Beyond Black & White - Ubuntu

"Sinamandla Kunye "- Together we are Strong

Many people ask me "how can it be that a white man is a Sangoma?" I then reply "we all have red blood, and we all have ancestors".  I normally then ask people if it is okay for black people to become doctors, lawyers, priests, etc. The answer is always a resounding YES OF COURSE!  I then say "well then it must be okay for white people to become Sangomas, because to say otherwise is tantamount to reverse rascism"!  I then ask people if they have heard of Nelson Mandela or Desmond Tutu. Again most people have. Well Nelson Mandela is a lawyer, an advocate, and Desmond Tutu is an English priest, an Anglican Bishop. Both these men are my elders as both of them are Xhosa. So they have entered Western culture and excelled. Now as a white man I was called to become a Sangoma, and now I am a senior Xhosa Sangoma.

For us Sangomas, 'Ubuntu' means humanity. And people realise ubuntu through their conduct in the community.

When I give talks I relate a story during the early days of my training in a township in the Eastern Cape.  Apartheid finished in 1994, I started my training in 1997, so understandably people were cautious and a bit suspicious of me.  I remember one traditional ceremony which I attended. The people were very wary towards me. My teacher felt all this and when she went into trance she became like a lioness protecting her young and she shouted at the community. "U sika apha egazine ibomvu, uyasika Cingolwendaba egazini ibomvu. Ngamanye amaxesha ndapupa abelungu izinyana zithetha mna. Ngamanye amaxesha uCingo upupa Amaxhosa izinyanya, zithetha nina. Abantu Bafana".

"When you cut my arm red blood flows, when you cut John's arm red blood flows. Sometimes when I dream the white ancestors (Abelungu Izinyanya) speak to me, sometimes when John dreams Xhosa ancestor spirits talk to him. We are all very similar. Once more, I was told in a dream by the Great Spirit (uThixo) to train John, and that is what I am doing. When he came to me he was very sick, now he is much better. He treats me with respect. I met his parents and they also show me a lot of respect.  John is like one of my own sons" (translated from Xhosa to English).

After this there was silence by the community. And after 5 years of training I was accepted. Now I am treated with love and respect.

Again "Ubuntu" means humanity, and "Ubuntu Ubunzulu" is the sacred Xhosa Sangoma teachings relating to our connection to one another and our ancestors. If someone trains to become a medical doctor they have to pass a series of tests and examinations regardless of skin colour. At the end of their 6 or 7 hard years they are examined by other doctors and if they are deemed worthy they are rewarded with the title of 'Doctor'. A similar process occurs with Sangoma training. It is a traditional apprenticeship. If someone, regardless of skin colour demonstrates the Sangoma calling, and they act upon it respecting and honouring their teacher and community then they have realised 'Ubuntu Ubunzulu' (our sacred humanity & our connection to community) and skin colour should never be an issue.

A Sangoma Blessing for 2010

As 2010 opens, and starts to flow like a gentle river with ever increasing speed towards the sea I would like to make a special blessing for our Elders, the old people in our community and our Ancestors who have passed on. A few months ago I had the good fortune of appearing as a live studio guest on BBC Radio 4 and before the show, Simon, the producer asked me what would my wish be in 50 years time if I looked back at my life and work. I replied "that the elders in our community are once again held with love and respect, and likewise, that our ancestors are respected. Because when we can remember to respect and love our old people, and our ancestors, then the cycle of life and death will be restored".

At the moment in Western culture there is an over glamourisation of the 'youth'. And this puts great pressure on young people, as well as relegating old people to second class citizens. As soon as people get a bit older they are pushed aside and no longer valued. If we look at traditional cultures like the Xhosa people, older people (traditonally) are seen as the elders in the culture, and they are given a respectful place in the community. I remember in the early days during my apprenticeship I was disheartened that their weren't many people who had arrived for one of my initiations and when I expressed this to my teacher's husband, Tata Sukwini he exclaimed "ungakatazeki Cingo, jongani abantu, abantu badala, wena uthamsanqa!"  Look at the people who have arrived, they are old, very old, you are very lucky!  You see in traditional culture the old people need to be introduced to someone or something first.  When the old people come and support ceremonies and initiations it is seen as a blessing because they are seen to bring ancestral energy with them.

I saw this beautiful poem written by an old man before he died. I would like to share it with you.

When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in country NSW, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.

Later, when the nurses were going through his meagre possessions, They found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.

One nurse took her copy to Melbourne . The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas editions of magazines around the country and appearing in mags for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.

And this old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.

Cranky Old Man

What do you see nurses? . .  . . .What do you see? What are you thinking .. . . . . when you're looking at me? A cranky old man, . . .  . . .not very wise, Uncertain of habit .. . . . . . . . with faraway eyes?

Who dribbles his food .. . .. . . . . and makes no reply. When you say in a loud voice . . . . .. 'I do wish you'd try!' Who seems not to notice . .  . . .the things that you do. And forever is losing . . . . . . . . . . A sock or shoe?

Who, resisting or not .. . . . . . . . . . . lets you do as you will, With bathing and feeding  . . . . . .The long day to fill? Is that what you're thinking?  . . . . . ..  Is that what you see? Then open your eyes, nurse . . . . . . you're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am . . . . . . . As I sit here so still, As I do at your bidding, . . . . . . as I eat at your will. I'm a small child of Ten . . . . . . . with a father and mother, Brothers and sisters .. . . . . . . . who love one another

A young boy of Sixteen . . . . . with wings on his feet Dreaming that soon now . .. . . .. ... . a lover he'll meet. A groom soon at Twenty .. . . . ... . . my heart gives a leap. Remembering, the vows .. . . . . . that I promised to keep.

At Twenty-Five, now . . . . . ... . . . . I have young of my own. Who need me to guide . . . . And a secure happy home. A man of Thirty . . . . . . . . .. My young now grown fast, Bound to each other . . . . . . . With ties that should last.

At Forty, my young sons .. . . . . have grown and are gone, But my woman is beside me . . . . . . . to see I don't mourn. At Fifty, once more, .  . ... . . . ..Babies play 'round my knee, Again, we know children . . . . . . . My loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me .  . . . . . .... My wife is now dead. I look at the future ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . I shudder with dread. For my young are all rearing . . . . . . young of their own. And I think of the years . . .. . . . . And the love that I've known.

I'm now an old man . . . . . . . . . and nature is cruel. It's jest to make old age . . . . . . . look like a fool. The body, it crumbles .. . . . ... . . . . . grace and vigour depart. There is now a stone .. . . . . .. . where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass .  . . .. A young man still dwells, And now and again . . . .. . . . my battered heart swells I remember the joys . .. . . . . . . . .. . I remember the pain. And I'm loving and living . . . . .. . . . . . . . . life over again.

I think of the years . all too few . . . . . . gone too fast. And accept the stark fact . . . . . . . . that nothing can last. So open your eyes, people . . . . . . . . open and see. Not a cranky old man .   Look closer . . .. . see . . . . . .... . ME!!

Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within . ... . . . we will all, one day, be there, too!

John & Credo Mutwa - Zulu Sangoma/ African Sage

May our elders be blessed, and the correct relationship between all of us re-established.

Welcome to my new website & Blog

My wish is to help people of all nations 'to remember' their old ancestral ways through dreaming - for when people are in touch with their own inner worlds, then happiness and contentment can be fostered, peace and balance can be restored.

Intention

My intention behind this website and media work is to publicise and correctly inform people about African spirituality, and in particular, Sangoma work. For too long now there has been the mistaken view that Sangomas are associated with witchcraft, black magic and voodoo. The word 'Sangoma' means 'people of the song' because we go into trace through rhythm and song.  The job of the Sangoma is to heal people and lift the spiritual energy of the individual and community up. It is a sacred job with great responsibility. If people call themselves 'sangoma' but then work to hurt, injure or create disharmony, they are not sangomas and only serve to discredit this ancient name and profession.

There is no word for depression in the Zulu and Xhosa language, only 'umoya phantsi' (spirit energy down), or 'umoya phezulu' (spirit energy up). The job of the Sangoma is always 'umoya phezulu' - to lift, raise up the spiritual energy of the individual and community. In the international language of healing, one cannot put curses on people one day and then attempt to heal people the next.

One of the ancient symbols of Sangomas is the 'Sacred Aloe' - to heal the community in a variety of ways.

Additional Blog postings to appear in the near future...