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MAMA MONA NDZEKELI
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from the healing powers of the witch doctor, whose skill depended upon herbs and a direct line to their ancestors. There is not much deliberate hypnotic healing among the Africans. Most of their healing lies in the power of the words in a healing ceremony and in contact healing. All sickness, according to African tribal belief, is caused by ceremony conducted wrongly or not conducted at all, to the wrath of the ancestors.
In some cases, a very sick man, almost dying, would be taken to the cattle kraal and be dumped in there among the animals. The psychic healer would call all the next of kin to come and create power to heal the sick man. The participants must go through a cleansing or purifying ceremony in order to be suitable to ask the ancestors' forgiveness on behalf of the sick, and they must be pure themselves. The words would go something like this: "Son of so-and-so, great-grandson of so-and-so, we have brought you here before this holy place in the cattle kraal. May the great ancestors heal you instantly." After these words, the cattle in the kraal must pass their water as a sign to indicate that the plea has been answered and that the healing has been achieved.
This seems ridiculous, but to this day many of the tribes believe that healing takes place in the cattle kraal. As seen from the eyes of the African, the kraal was not only the commercial power of the African people but it was also their center of interest. This is where all the ancestors of the family would be buried.
However, when those who will, and they are legion, come to Mama Mona in her Spiritual Church, she performs wonders for them in contact healing and absent healing. She also exorcises evil spirits.
In some of Mama's work she has received assistance from several relatives who have died. This has surprised us both since some of these relatives would never have been expected to help anybody.
