Page 159 - A People Called Afrika

Afrika’s Indigenous Knowledge Systems

ity, but merely one in the Spirit, as you say all men are?”
“He is, as you say, not my brother in the flesh. I call him my
elder brother because he is an Elder in the Family (Society)
to which I belong, whose members are the guardians of the
Wisdom-which-comes-from-of-old. There are many of us—
one at least in every tribe and nation—throughout this great
land. We are of many ranks, from the learner to the Master,
and to those Higher Ones whose names may not be spoken,
I am a common Brother; he of whom I speak is my Elder”.
“But”, I asked in some surprise, “how can you
know this man, seeing you have often told me
you have never travelled beyond the Zambezi?”
“I know him, because I have often seen him, though not in the
flesh. Often have we spoken together. Do you think the mind of
Man can travel only in the flesh? Do you think thought is limit-
ed by the power of the body? See this, and try to understand”.

As he spoke he pointed to a lizard which basked in the sun,
nearby. Fixing his eyes upon it, he extended his hand, palm
upward, towards it, and began to breathe slowly and regularly.
In a few seconds, the beady eyes of the little reptile turned to-
wards him. It took a little run forward, then stopped, its sides
expanding and contracting, rhythmically. After a few seconds’
further pause, it again darted forward and settled itself upon
the old man’s open palm. He let it rest for a minute, then slid
it gently among the leaves where it quickly concealed itself.
He looked at us and smiled gently. “That is witchcraft (ubu-
takati) perhaps you will say”, he said, “perhaps I sent an evil
spirit to call the lizard to me. Or perhaps it is itself an evil
spirit which serves me. If I tell you that my mind went out
and entered its brain and our two minds became one, you
will not believe. Someday, perhaps, you will understand”.

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