"The day I learned that its the other way round, Is the day I truly defined Spirituality. 'The Spirit is not alive in the body, the body is alive because Spirit dwells within it.' Read it again, and this time slowly."
Gogo Noma
Thokozani, Camangwini, Thobela, Lesedi, Greetings to all 🙌🙌.
It is Friday and that can only mean one thing, class is on and we are learning with Noma. My name is Gogo Noma and welcome to the classroom where you learn with the educator. In today’s lesson we are going to continue learning more about the Spirit.
In a previous lesson we got an introduction of Who Spirit is.Today we unpack the topic by discussing a few types of Spirits in African Spirituality. Please note, that they are not limited to, as the journey continues, we will discuss more.
Isithunywa/ Prophetic Spirit
Isithunywa, Umthandazi, Moprofeta or Prophetic Spirits are ancestors that were attending church and who were practicing through religion, mainly Christianity. This is a Spirit that used to pray a lot during their time on earth.
Prophetic Spirits have their own clothing that commonly involve sepheka (a cape), tuku (head wrap), pitane (wool belt made of different colour wools) or cloth belt and sometimes a full dress. These uniforms are made from different colour cloths, which represents different healing powers of the Spirit. The colour mostly associated with Prophetic Spirits is yellow, i.e. yellow clothes and candles.
The Bible is used to help diagnose and direct treatment. Treatment may involve use of impande (herbs), sehwasho, dikgato, water and prayer.
Gospel music is mostly used to connect to the Spirit.
These Spirits work differently from one person to the other. One may need to go pray in the velds, mountains or river banks. Each person listens to Isithunywa sakhe and practice depending on the guidance given by the Spirit/s. Communication is mainly through dreams and visions.
Your Direct Spirits/Blood Spirits
This are your direct bloodline, they form part of your family tree.
uMndiki
These Ancestors are named after the tribe of Mandika who come from West Africa. Dominant of masculine Spirits looking after you. The Spirit is most of time iDlozi that passed away through violence. The Spirit usually require a performance of a cleansing ritual. Once it is cleansed it can be reunited with the family to form part of ancestors that bring healing and gifts.
uMndiki are Spirits that bring one back to their roots as this are our oldest blood ancestors, ones that passed away long before we were born, sometimes even before our own parents were born.
uMndiki Spirit comes to us as a messenger and custodian of indigenous knowledge.
Mnguni
These is the most commonly known type of Spirit. AmaDlozi that are named after the Nguni tribe from Southern Africa. They are our direct ancestors, such as great-grandmother or great-grandfather from either the maternal or paternal side or even both sides.
The Spirit represent an Ancestor who was also Spiritually gifted. iDlozi lo Mnguni needs to go through the process of ukuthwasa. These Spirits have to be given the special herbs to help them function in their calling.
iDlozi lo Mnguni dresses in different animal print cloths/Amabhayi and beads/ubuhlalo. The Spirit will possess the body of the individual, say their name and surname and explain their work. This name will be known to the older members of the family or even the individual themselves, as this is a direct Ancestor to one.
The Mnguni Spirit uses bones to diagnose and direct treatment. Muthi is used to treat through cleansing rituals or drinking imbiza.
Dancing, drums and music makes this Spirit excited. That is why ha re ngita ( perform sangoma dance) we say “Sijabulisa iDlozi lo Mnguni” (we are giving pleasure to the Mnguni Spirit).
The role of Mnguni Spirit is to protect and guide.
This is just Part 1 of the Types of Spirits. Join me next week to learn about the Water Spirits.
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My name is Noma, and this is Learning with Noma.
