The strong spiritual influence among those of African descent is undeniable. This is without regard to religious or cultural boundaries. In many African villages one will not fail to come across some sacred worship shrines. I am not an expert in spiritual matters, and I am not therefore in any way judging these sacred places of worship. By no means! One ought to acknowledge things as they are. The influence and role of "sangoma and inyangas Or Zionist" witch doctors or spiritual healers in many African kingdoms has been evident for generations.
Nobody really need to prove the influence that organized faith sects in many Southern African societies today. Locally and international faith evangelist have shuttered records, filling stadiums everywhere within the continent. Whichever spiritual group one may belong to, there is clear evidence that we African descendants have deep roots into the unseen world. Nowhere in this article do I belittle, blasphemy or disrespect any religious and spiritual organization (sect) group of any kind, in any way or form.
How then does "the demonic influence" come into play? One may ask! In all these groups there are some form of casting out demons at least. So the mentality of demons or evil spirit is not new in Africa. This is not limited or directly linked to witchcraft. Good or bad, our sensitivity to the spiritual realm has left us handicapped. For example, if a relative is sick, or something bad happens the first thing that comes to mind is a witch doctor "inyanga or umporofethi emazayonini kumbe amapostoli". This mentality is rather limiting. One would think it would be easier to consult a medical practitioner. I am not saying that all traditional medicine does not work. I know for sure that there is some that work.
To them, all sickness is some form of evil spirit. Don' get me wrong, prayer has its own place. And God is able to heal all sickness, if he so chooses to. That much I know. They right in principle, but wrong in operation. Its just that we have to put everything into its perspective, and beside God uses medical doctors too.
I have been in this country a little less than ten years now. I have never seen any preachers casting out demons. As matter of fact they do not even think that demons exist in this part of the world. Not even those preachers that are known for casting out demons back home in Africa. Here they do not lift a finger against them. In Africa we tend to see everything in spiritual terms. Over here, preachers like everybody else have specialist doctors they go to for check ups. Back home its unheard of that preacher has a doctor, all is left for divine power. "Its like the man of God has no faith" is he goes to the hospital. To say we expect a lot from the supernatural is an not an exaggeration.
It could be that our lack of medical advancement is substituted by our desire for the supernatural or rather compliments it. A respected African American mega preacher once said to his black congregation in Atlanta, and I quote, "Some of you are still being followed by demons your fore fathers brought from Africa". When he said that hundreds of black people responded to the alter call for some "cleansing prayer "The idea that Africa is somehow a cursed place has deep roots overseas, yet we also reinforce it ourselves by further promoting bizarre spiritual activities. It could be that demons manifest themselves in different ways, but I will tell you that there are more quiet and smart demons here than anywhere else in the world. There are serial killers, prostitutes, drug dealers, cold blooded mass murderers, terrorists of all kinds.
Things that are easily dealt with here like malaria, cholera still require miracles back home. In fact most people in developed countries benefit a lot from the use of prescription drugs. On the flip side an average American is always on some kind of drugs, doctor prescribed or not. Nobody makes money like the drugs and pharmaceutical companies. Hospitals, and insurance companies are big business here. They even control media institutions.
There is absolutely no mention of the spiritual world at all. Let alone the demons, and evil spirits. Except on movies, and children story books. Nobody here prays for rain, yet nobody starves. No sacrifices and no rain making ceremonies. In fact there not many sacred worship shrines. In most of our cultures we burns incense, "Ukuthunqisela"get cleansed for evil omen. "Ukugeza umnyama" some kind of exorcising demons or evil spirits. Ukulahliswa. Growing up in the city, one would see a lot of coins and treated water on the crossroads especially in the mornings. Evil spirits are believed to hinder one from many good things in life. In my culture, if things are not going well it is said that "ulomnyama"This applies even in marriage. Seers, and traditional healer use the term. "Ngibona ithunzi elimnyama" I see a dark cloud!
Our quest for the spiritual world has further plunged into thick demonic consciousness mentality. Some greed and preying American Evangelists have taken advantage of that. A friend who had left Zimbabwe many years before, when she came back, she concluded that American evangelism is the new form of colonialism. We are a fertile ground for any spiritual experiment and exorcism in as much as we one when it comes to medical experiments treatments. Its like being off the pan and directly on fire! Whichever way are going to burn!
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