Observations placeholder
Laubscher, B J F – The amazing powers of Soloman Daba, and the dance with ukwombelela
Identifier
023306
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
B J Laubscher – Where Mystery dwells
The dance with "ukwombelela" that is chanting and hand-clapping does seem to produce the highest degree of exaltation.
I could always observe an element of emotional uplift, a pleasure to serve and receive inspiration, and of course there must have been an enhancement of personality, and the feelings which linked the expectations with the supernatural. The "Siyavuma" showed the blend of emotions, the feeling of oneness and the traversing of the psychic distance to make the higher contacts with the izinyanya.
Soloman once told me that when he chewed the bark or roots, or when he danced to the "ukuwombelela" he found himself farther away from the things and people immediately around him. He would think with those who knew the past and the future. On some of those occasions his mind became quiet and light. He did not think with effort as he normally did, because the thoughts came to him like the wind blows towards and against one. He conveyed the impression of a passive mental capacity to which ideas came.
*********************
Even among the amagqira they have found that the ability to peep into the future or obtain ideas from the izinyanya is seriously hindered, if not stopped altogether, by violent passions, or serious worries. This faculty often varied according to the circumstances of life, hence it was frequently necessary to have the upliftment of the emotions by means of the chanting, handclapping and the beat of the drum.
When the lightness came over Soloman, he saw mental pictures and received the thoughts which explained them.
He was most amazed at the houses of London, the fog and smoke with its hurrying people.