Join Books.org — it's free

Book cover of Zulu Shaman: Dreams, Prophecies, and Mysteries
Africana - Africa, Religion around the World

Zulu Shaman: Dreams, Prophecies, and Mysteries

by Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa, Stephen Larsen (Editor), Luisah Teish
Available on Bookshop Available on Amazon Write a review

Books.org participates in affiliate programs including Bookshop.org and the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.

Log in to track your reading progress.

Overview

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.

Synopsis

In this rare window into Zulu mysticism, Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa breaks the bonds of traditional silence to share his personal experience as 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.

About the Author, Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa

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.

Stephen Larsen, Ph.D, is Psychology Professor Emeritus at SUNY Ulster and the author of The Shaman’s Doorway and The Mythic Imagination and coauthor of Joseph Campbell: A Fire in the Mind. He has been using the LENS clinically since 1996 and biofeedback since 1975 in his psychotherapy practice. He directs the Stone Mountain Center for Counseling and Biofeedback near New Paltz, New York.

Reviews

There are no reviews yet. Log in to write one.

Editorials

Luisah Teish

“There is medicine for the soul here. One feels Credo Mutwa’s wonderful humanity and the genius of his people in these stories.”

Malidoma Some

“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.”

February 2004

"Zulu Shaman is a special and fascinating glimpse into an all but vanished world."

Eric Lerner

"He weaves a rich tableau of mother godesses and tricksters amidst a climate of discrimination, urbanization and violence."

David Paulsen

"Mutwa's friendly, personal writing is accesible, making the book suitable for general readers."

The Cauldron Brasil

"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."

Jeffery Pritchett

“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.”

Malidoma Somé

“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.”

February 2004 SirReadaLot.org

"Zulu Shaman is a special and fascinating glimpse into an all but vanished world."

From the Publisher


“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.”

Book Details

Published
October 1, 2003
Publisher
Inner Traditions Bear & Company
Pages
256
Format
Paperback
ISBN
9780892811298

Similar books