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by Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa (Author), Stephen Larsen (Editor), Luisah Teish (Foreword by)
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.Back Jacket
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 Some, 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.
Author Biography
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. Editor Stephen Larsen, Ph.D., is the author of The Mythic Imagination, Joseph Campbell: A Fire in the Mind, and The Shaman's Doorway. He is a practicing psychotherapist and lives in New Paltz, New York.
