Umoya: On African Spirituality: Recent Episodes
Kaya 959
With new episodes out every second Thursday, Umoya is a podcast that seeks to share the various modes and influences of spiritual practice in our lives and work. We want to understand how modern Africans are thinking about their sense of being and belong. Who are we? What makes us human? And to explore these questions within the realms of indigenous knowledge systems. Yintoni ubuNtu ngezintsuku? What is the role of love and spiritual identity in the aftermath of apartheid? While the conversations would encompass universal principles of spiritual practice, we are particularly interested in excavating the numinous values and practices of African Spirituality.
For more than two decades, singer Thandiswa Mazwai has captured, probed and illuminated our public imagination with her unyielding loyalty to an African world view, shared through her music, first as a member of Bongo Maffin and in latter years, her solo career. In our final episode of Umoya, we journey with the rebel singer in a conversation that brought her indelible spirit to the politics of freedom.
With an increasing number of Africans seeking to explore how their Christianity can co-exist with indigenous African spiritual practices, episode 9 features Methodist priest, theologian and marriage healer Reverend Mandla Gamede, who integrates Christianity with African spirituality in his work with the Magadlela Institute of Authentic Leadership. Reverend Gamede is an example of someone who has found synergy in his practice in spite of the contested history between African Spirituality and Christianity
In this episode we speak to photographer Sabelo Mlangeni about his photography with a particular focus on the 2018 exhibition Umlindelo Wamakholwa. This exhibition was a deeply spiritual representation of AmaZiyoni who occupy a marginal place in the cultural imagination. Sabelo shares his journey with photography and how it intersects with his journey as umZiyoni. Please note that this conversation was largely conducted in isiZulu and there are no translations.
In this episode we explore the world of dreams through personal reflection with friends. This episode takes a seemingly taken for granted aspect of our humanity—dreams—and sheds light on the thin veil between the world that is seen and unseen. Given the nature of dreams, the conversation was deeply personal which yielded stories which demystify dreams but also shed more light on the significance of the dream world.
In this excerpt, we explore the influence of collaborating in Msaki’s musical journey. While the music industry can commodify these relationships Msaki is aware of the need to approach these relationships with care because abantu badibanisa imimoya yabo. Msaki shares the nexus of the 3Cs which have influenced her music: creativity, communion, and community.
In this excerpt Msaki reflects on the sound of her dreams which have influenced the threshold moment in her musical journey. It was through her relationships with friends such as Nduduzo Makhathini and Sisonke Papu who opened her up to the ideas about the generosity and grace in African spirituality which she now embraces in her work as well. In embracing her dreams and challenging the fear which came with Christianity Msaki was able to piece herself together, revisiting painful memories and using them to heal through the idea of ukuzilanda.
In this excerpt Zoya tells us about her own journey about bringing herself home to herself. It was through a personal experience that Zoya was confronted with finding the power of truth and how it is intricately linked to her work. Zoya also share her own journey with forgiveness as a way to heal her past traumas in order to do the work of helping others find their voice.
In this excerpt Zoya shares her journey with finding her voice. While she grew up knowing she had a talent for the stage and public speaking, it was while she was working in a corporate environment that she began to notice that her voice was being stifled. It was the brave decision to leave her corporate job that she was able to recognise the power of her voice and the work she had to do in helping others find their voice.
In this excerpt Gogo Sophia speaks about the effects of controlling the womb through contraceptives. The effects of contraceptives means that women’s bodies are numbed, thus disrupting the energetic flow of the womb. The conversation highlighted the importance of rites of passage for women in order to mark the sacred role of the womb.
In this excerpt we explore the womb as a sacred space. Our guest, Gogo Sophia, brings to light the conversation about women’s bodies. This conversation is often shrouded in shame and silence.
How do we show up authentically in relationships? What are some of the habits we’ve picked up from popular culture and what do they do to the establishment of peace, joy, healing and love in our intimate relationships? And how else can we understand and deal with breakups in ways that nourish self worth?
From our episode on the metaphysical and spiritual aspect of our sexual and intimate relationships, healers Mpho Makhanya and Vela Maseko define intimacy, love, sex and relationships in ways we haven’t considered, and quite frankly, needed to hear. This was one of the most insightful conversations about arguably the most important part of our lives - relationships.
When South Africa’s poet laureate, philosopher and author, Ntate Mongane Serote was first recruited into the ANC, he did not believe nor understand the notion of non-racialism. This fourth minisode of Episode 1: On National Healing, he speaks about how he came to learn about its deep foundation while in exile
Why did the whole world rally around South Africa in its fight against apartheid and pursuit of democracy? In this third minisode of Episode 1: On National Healing, Ntate Mongane Serote wonders out loud whether our country still has the thing that made the world hold us in such high regard
One of the bonds that have continued to suffer in the aftermath of apartheid is the relationship between African men and women. In the second minisode from Episode 1: On National Healing, Ntate Mongane Serote focuses on how African families were built and what we could learn from these formations.
On National Healing, South Africa’s poet laureate, philosopher and author ntate Mongane Serote talks about the special bond he shared with his grandmother, and shares some insights on the unexpected magnanimity of her generation, having been on the receiving end of a daily racism during apartheid.
The hosts of Umoya turn their gaze to the spiritual nature of their own friendship. In this episode Milisuthando Bongela and Athambile Masola allow themselves to be vulnerable in order to navigate the vantage points that their friendship roots itself in. As spiritually observant storytellers, Milisuthando and Athambile throwback to their individual upbringing, to eventually converge at the idea of loving with a purpose. A love that birthed the prayer that is this podcast series.
As a burgeoning spiritual practice and carrier of ancestral energy, song has been a search light for song catcher Msaki’s journey into Ukuzilanda: the Art and Practice of Fetching Oneself. In this episode of Umoya: On African Spirituality, Athambile Masola and Milisuthando Bongela sit down with their friend and peer - acclaimed singer, songwriter and artist Msaki - to navigate the role that spirit has played in her craft, as well as to delve into her genesis and current reality as an artist who seeks to restore pride in the idea of African spirituality.
Voice is that which we use to express ourselves in various contexts, but more often than not we find it challenging to speak from a place honesty. In this episode, Milisuthando Bongela and Athambile Masola speak to award-winning public speaker, Zoya Mabuto about her journey in discovering her authentic voice and how she has used it in coaching others to nurture their own.
How do romantic relationships and the act of sex intersect with African Spirituality ? This is the grand question explored on the latest episode of Umoya. Athambile Masola and Milisuthando Bongela sit down with healers, Mpho Makhanya and Vella Maseko to unpack the metaphysics of Ukujola. www.kayafm.co.za
On this episode of Umoya, Milisuthando Bongela and Athambile Masola host Gogo Sophia to demystify womb health. Gogo Sophia is a Johannesburg based film maker Sangoma, integrated shaman and energy healer; trained in advanced meditation and African therapy. Kaya FM Website
At a time when current affairs focus on naming everything that is wrong with the world, the spiritual essence of how we got here is often ignored. Reflection on events that have taken place since the dawn of democracy in South Africa has never been more important than it is now. Athambile Masola and Milisuthando Bongela explore the idea of national healing and forgiveness as necessities with the guidance of Poet laureate, freedom fighter, healer and cultural activist, Ntate Mongane Wally Serote. The conversation takes place at the Freedom Park Museum. Kaya FM