Synopses & Reviews
“V. Credo Mutwa paints a stunning picture of the complex world of Zulu cosmology and traditions. The colorful array of stories and the science of healing he offers with humility take us into the heart of African ancestral wisdom. His courage in revealing to the world what would otherwise remain hidden commands respect and reverence.”
Malidoma Somé, author of The Healing Wisdom of Africa and Of Water and the Spirit
“There is medicine for the soul here. One feels Credo Mutwa’s wonderful humanity and the genius of his people in these stories.”
Luisah Teish, author of Jambalaya and Carnival of the Spirit
In this rare window into Zulu mysticism, Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa breaks the bonds of traditional silence to share his personal experiences as a sangoma—a Zulu shaman. Set against the backdrop of post-colonial South Africa, Zulu Shaman relays the first-person accounts of an African healer and reveals the cosmology of the Zulu.
Mutwa begins with the compelling story of his personal journey as an English-trained Christian schoolteacher who receives a calling to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps as a shaman and keeper of folklore. He then tells the stories of his ancestors, including creation myths; how evil came to the world; the adventures of the trickster god Kintu; and Zulu relations with the “fiery visitors,”whom he likens to extraterrestrials. In an attempt to preserve the knowledge of his ancestors and encourage his vision of a world united in peace and harmony, Mutwa also shares previously guarded secrets of Zulu healing and spiritual practices: including the curing power of the sangoma and the psychic powers of his people.
Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa, resides in Pretoria, South Africa, near Johannesburg, where he continues to sculpt, paint, and teach Zulu lore. His book Indaba, My Children has become a classic of African literature.
Review
andldquo;There is medicine for the soul here. One feels Credo Mutwaandrsquo;s wonderful humanity and the genius of his people in these stories.andrdquo;
Review
“There is medicine for the soul here. One feels Credo Mutwa’s wonderful humanity and the genius of his people in these stories.”
Review
andldquo;V. Credo Mutwa paints a stunning picture of the complex world of Zulu cosmology and traditions. The colorful array of stories and the science of healing he offers with humility take us into the heart of African ancestral wisdom. His courage in revealing to the world what would otherwise remain hidden commands respect and reverence.andrdquo;
Review
"andlt;Iandgt;Zulu Shamanandlt;/Iandgt; is a special and fascinating glimpse into an all but vanished world."
Review
"He weaves a rich tableau of mother godesses and tricksters amidst a climate of discrimination, urbanization and violence."
Review
andquot;Mutwa's friendly, personal writing is accesible, making the book suitable for general readers.andquot;
Review
andquot;. . . the rich amount of folklore and spiritual stories found throughout the book creates a very inviting atmosphere for the reader.andquot;
Review
andquot;This book is a good addition to the knowledge of African spirituality as well as being a personal account that for sure will benefit the spiritual journeyman from all edges of the compass.andquot;
Review
andldquo;I cannot recommend this book enough and tell you to get it as soon as you can and delve into its depths to learn the ways of the Zulu shaman. It is unforgettable and I could easily read it over and probably will in the future.andrdquo;
Synopsis
Offers a rare view into the world of a Zulu shaman andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#8226; Includes 14 Zulu myths as told by a traditional Zulu story keeper andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#8226; Reveals Zulu shamanic practices, including healing techniques, dreamwork, oracles, prophecy, and interactions with star beings andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;In this rare window into Zulu mysticism, Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa breaks the bonds of traditional silence to share his personal experiences as a andlt;iandgt;sangomaandlt;/iandgt;and#8212;a Zulu shaman. Set against the backdrop of post-colonial South Africa, andlt;iandgt;Zulu Shamanandlt;/iandgt; relays the first-person accounts of an African healer and reveals the cosmology of the Zulu. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Mutwa begins with the compelling story of his personal journey as an English-trained Christian schoolteacher who receives a calling to follow in his grandfatherand#8217;s footsteps as a shaman and keeper of folklore. He then tells the stories of his ancestors, including creation myths; how evil came to the world; the adventures of the trickster god Kintu; and Zulu relations with the and#8220;fiery visitors,and#8221; whom he likens to extraterrestrials. In an attempt to preserve the knowledge of his ancestors and encourage his vision of a world united in peace and harmony, Mutwa also shares previously guarded secrets of Zulu healing and spiritual practices: including the curing power of the andlt;iandgt;sangomaandlt;/iandgt; and the psychic powers of his people.
Synopsis
Offers a rare view into the world of a Zulu shaman
- Includes 14 Zulu myths as told by a traditional Zulu story keeper
- Reveals Zulu shamanic practices, including healing techniques, dreamwork, oracles, prophecy, and interactions with star beings
In this rare window into Zulu mysticism, Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa breaks the bonds of traditional silence to share his personal experiences as a sangoma--a Zulu shaman. Set against the backdrop of post-colonial South Africa, Zulu Shaman relays the first-person accounts of an African healer and reveals the cosmology of the Zulu.
Mutwa begins with the compelling story of his personal journey as an English-trained Christian schoolteacher who receives a calling to follow in his grandfather's footsteps as a shaman and keeper of folklore. He then tells the stories of his ancestors, including creation myths; how evil came to the world; the adventures of the trickster god Kintu; and Zulu relations with the "fiery visitors," whom he likens to extraterrestrials. In an attempt to preserve the knowledge of his ancestors and encourage his vision of a world united in peace and harmony, Mutwa also shares previously guarded secrets of Zulu healing and spiritual practices: including the curing power of the sangoma and the psychic powers of his people.
About the Author
Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa resides in Pretoria, South Africa, near Johannesburg, where he continues to sculpt, paint, and teach Zulu lore. His book andlt;Iandgt;Indaba, My Childrenandlt;/Iandgt; has become a classic of African literature.Stephen Larsen, Ph.D., LMHC, BCIA-eeg, is professor emeritus of psychology at SUNY Ulster, board-certified in EEG biofeedback, and the author of several books, including andlt;Iandgt;The Healing Power of Neurofeedbackandlt;/Iandgt; and andlt;Iandgt;The Fundamentalist Mindandlt;/Iandgt;. He is the founder and director of Stone Mountain Center, offering biofeedback, neurofeedback, and psychotherapy treatments. He lives in New Paltz, New York.
Table of Contents
andlt;Bandgt;Zulu Shamanandlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Dreams, Prophecies, and Mysteriesandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Contents andlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;Iandgt;ACKNOWLEDGMENTS andlt;BRandgt;FOREWORD BY LUISAH TEISHandlt;BRandgt;EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION andlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;Bandgt;1. The Way of the Witch Doctorandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;The Illness andlt;BRandgt;Beginning the Cure andlt;BRandgt;The Sangoma's Apprenticeandlt;BRandgt;The Lore of the Soul andlt;BRandgt;How a Sangoma Cures andlt;BRandgt;The Bone Oracle andlt;BRandgt;The Sangoma's Creative and Psychic Powersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;2. The Great Goddessandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;The Tree of Life andlt;BRandgt;How Evil Came into the World andlt;BRandgt;Amarava and the Second People andlt;BRandgt;The Childhood of the Second Peopleandlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;3. Of Goddesses and Godsandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;The Four Winds of the Goddess andlt;BRandgt;How the Birds Saved the Earth andlt;BRandgt;Ngungi, the Crippled Smith of the Gods andlt;BRandgt;The Gift of the Magic Flower andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;4. Tales of the Tricksterandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;The Theft of Fire andlt;BRandgt;Kintu and the Cattle of the Sun andlt;BRandgt;Kintu and the Star Goddess andlt;BRandgt;The Trickster's Revenge andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;5. The Song of the Starsandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;The Song of the Starsandlt;BRandgt;Fire Visitors andlt;BRandgt;Extraterrestrial Beings andlt;BRandgt;Communion andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;6. The Common Origin of All Humanityandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Commonalities of Myth, Ritual, and Customandlt;BRandgt;Roots and Commonalities of Language andlt;BRandgt;On the Family andlt;BRandgt;On Banishing Fearandlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;7. Dreams, Prophecies, and Mysteriesandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;On Sleep and Dreaming andlt;BRandgt;Prophecies andlt;BRandgt;On the Sacred Rock Carvingsandlt;BRandgt;Science and Religion andlt;BRandgt;A Path to Wisdom andlt;BRandgt;The Boundaries of Human Lifeandlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;NOTES andlt;BRandgt;INDEX andlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Iandgt;