Indaba My Children African Tribal Histor

by Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa

Originally published in 1964. A collection of African folk tales that chart the story of African tribal life since the time of the Phoenicians. Reconstructs the past of the Bantu of Africa and demonstrates the intertribal friendships and hatreds, and how they were kept alive. Includes restored original line drawings.

Genres: Africa, History, Mythology, Nonfiction, Religion, African Literature, South Africa

718 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Credo Mutwa began his life in Zululand on July 21 – 1921. He has heard about his origins and ancestral history from his father, because of the influence on his life for the most part of it. Followed by the great influenza outbreak, Credo’s father had to reallocate to save whatever was left of his family. His wife and several children had already died in South Africa.

It was 1920, just one year before Credo’s birth, when his father met a young Zulu girl. She wasn’t Christian and still practiced the religion of the old zulu tribes, and that’s where the problems started. Credo’s father had to convince his wife to embrace Christianity as her new religion - Otherwise the white missionaries would never approve of the marriage.

However, on Credo’s mother side, the family wasn’t inclined on letting their daughter go and get married to a Christian man. Her father had just been involved in the wars with the English and was of the view that Christians were barbaric thieves who stole Africa at gunpoint. Mutwa sometimes recalls his grandfather as he used to say, “I cannot allow my child to become a Christian. These Christians are a race of thieves, of liars, and murderers, who stole our country from us at sword point and at gunpoint. I would rather die than see a Christ worshipping Christian within the stockade of my village. Never!"

Little did he know that the couple was so much intensely in love that the Zulu girl was already impregnated with a child, who was later named as Credo Mutwa. Since the couple’s sides never agreed to them getting married, they did not have a choice except to part ways. The father vanished for the time being and the Zulu girl was made to return to her native village, where she faced a cold response.

The Zulu’s found it a great shame and dishonor for any child to be born out of wedlock. Hence, Credo’s mother had to live in a nearby village at her aunts, where she gave birth to him later on. After a couple of years, the father allowed his daughter to return, for he loved her dearly. But Credo was always despised, which is why he was sent to one of his father’s younger brothers who came all the way from the Natal South Coast to meet the child.

“Remove this disgrace from my home, Christian fellow!” the grandfather said to Mutwa’s uncle, “And tell your brother that if I ever set eyes on him, I will make him suffer bitterly for what he did to my daughter. I will seize him and kill him very slowly indeed. Tell him that.”

At the age of 14, Mutwa was sent to school. He couldn’t attend classes earlier because of his father’s nature of job; it took them from one town to another. From 1935 to 1937, Credo and his family had to move to different places, due to their father’s ongoing building profession. He settled down in the Transvaal for a long time, which is where Credo pursued his education properly.

1937 was also a year of shock and trauma because a gang of mine workers, who sodomized the young boy outside of a mine compound. Young Mutwa was left scared and didn’t come out of the covers for a few weeks. Thinking that he might be “sick”, the family took him to various white doctors for examination but to no avail.

It was then that it was decided for Mutwa to be taken back to the Zulu village whence he came from. The same grandfather lovingly took the boy in and cared for him as if he was one of their own. Where the white doctors failed, Mutwa’s grandfather distinctively succeeded. From then onwards, different questions started plaguing Credo Mutwa’s mind:

Were our ancestors really the savages that quiet missionaries would have us believe they were?
Were we Africans really a race of primitives who possessed no knowledge at all before the white man came to Africa?

Other queries had also made their way to this young individual’s mind and soul, which convinced him to become a shaman healer. At the hands of a young Songoma, known as Myrna, Cre

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was awestruck by Indaba, My Children because of the eloquent story-telling and because of Mutwa’s encyclopaedic knowledge of African history and myths. It is true that he mixes the material and his styles in order to convey all that he wants to, but who cares that it is impossible to categorize it neatly?

He felt impelled to reveal to the world how rich African legends, mores and philosophy were and are, and we are indebted to him for that. However, the culturally challenged, immoral and thoughtless among us will miss the riches and to their minds, he will only confirm their presumption of savagery. All great myths have savage elements, but that will not stop them.

I don’t want only to generalise, so let me choose one character from the 700-odd pages. She is Ninavanhu-Ma, the great Mother, goddess of creation. What bowled me over is that she is portrayed as loving and nurturing, but also as evil and destructive. When this part of the story is told, the children are warned to be aware that as her children, they too have both good and evil in them. It seems wise and true to me. The Western world was so impressed by Solzhenitsyn’s tracking of the line between good and evil right through every human heart, but this thought was already established in Africa.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me one of the best works on African ideas and traditions ever written. This together with "My People" are must reads for anyone interested in African history and religion.

[Eseohe Arhebamen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always improperly subtitled, this book rivals The Holy Bible. It is the history of the world according to South Africans. It is an old old history and should be taught in every World History classroom.

[Zinhle Ngidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has taken me almost a year to read this book. Almost 700 pages with the smallest font ever. Well, I could have read it in less than a month but this book is unique. Sometimes what umkhulu wrote about will shock you to an extent of closing the book and think deeply as some of the stories are hard to believe. Not that he is lying but because our history is too rich and unfortunately we know nothing about ourselves. Sometimes I would dream of after some chapters of the book, that is how deep some stories are.
He is not just sharing about South Africa but the whole of the African continent.
It is sad that some things that the world has shared or that the world knows are not true. He shares stories of our origin, origin of our languages, our cultures and many more which is what the world should know about us than what they know now.
When I was reading this book, I realised the similarities between what God had intended for us and what we were in the olden days. That is, to rule over everything in this world. We had powers to rule over animals and anything given to us by mother nature. All we had to do was to respect her, follow the rules and we would have lived happily ever after. But ke Umona is from kudala.
Even with the arrival of whites, the first loophole they saw, was our hunger for power. They gave us guns to kill each other and the rest is history.

There's no better review for this book except that one must get it and keep it. Use it as and when you need to confirm, argue and or as reference about your roots. If you want to know why certain things, customs, culture, behavior etc are the way they are, get this Bible. Very informative and useful. I really wish the book can be introduced in schools just for our kids to know where they come from. The educators can select relevant stories for kids to read not the whole 700 pages ngoba Ave zivilapha lezingane no Thisha bazo😂

Rest in power Mkhulu. You left us rich with such information. Onezindlebe uzwile kanti nonamehlo ufundile.

[Nicholas Woode-Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

In rating any book, you should rate it for what it is. Too often, reviewers will rate a book based purely on their own personal feelings, resulting in hordes of readers giving bad reviews to Lord of the Rings because they wanted a romantic comedy.

Indaba, My Children is neither history or fantasy, and it is both. According to the author, it is a collection of the folklore of the Bantu people, starting with unified mythology from the more Northern Africans and then breaking off into the specific lore of the Nguni and Mambo people who traveled South.

The writing in the book is wonderful, with many creative and entrancing metaphors and imagery. The characters are memorable, lovable and compelling. What other book could make an angry cannibal a compelling hero?

The book also gave me an appreciation for aspects of the Nguni culture, and suggested reasons why certain customs are the way they are.

Overall, this is a wonderful story with an interesting setting. While it should by no means be taken as an historical account (in the same way Greek myth should not), stories and art are a very good way of understanding a people.

[Margitte · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the most comprehensive introduction to African history and cultural practices
written in a easy-read style. Credo Mutwa explains just about everything anyone ever wanted to know about Africa and her people: the origin of all the languages; the different migrations beginning thousands of years before; the meaning of the symbols in African art; the symbiosis with nature; cultural practices.

Credo Mutwa managed to introduce the people of Africa holistically to the world. Excellent book!

[Phumlani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be essential reading for all Africans, not because its contents should be imposed on everyone, but purely because the way the writer brings his version of our decendency across is well constructed and flows seamlessly the same way the bible does. I loved this book, i dreamt parts of it at times, it shook me to the core,it took me on a journey im not sure i really wanted to go on. This is thee quintessential African book, bravo Mutwa,Bravo!!

[Sobukhosi · Rating 5 out of 5]

No superlative can truly describe what an amazing read this has been. The importance of this book rivals the bible and it is extremely sad that such an important book has not been introduced in our curriculum. This masterpiece deserves a greater audience. Thank you Vusamazulu Mutwa.

[Kiran Bhat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A seminal collection of mythological tales and historical foundational narratives from Southern Africa. This is a must read for someone who wants to study this part of the world.

[Puleng Hopper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sage, author, story teller, sculptor, seer, academic, politician and traditional healer , ntate Vusamazulu Mutwa was a phenomenal selfless being. A priceless gift to Africa. He was like Google on two legs.

An honorary doctorate of sorts would have been befitting for him. But, alas, we, we are in the habit of singing our hero's praises late, or after they have passed away.

His immense contribution to the preservation of African indeginous knowledge via books, sculptures, paintings and word of mouth was invaluable.

I am happy to have made Indaba My Children my lock down read, and have managed to finish and to make sense of the 696 pager.

In his debut book, ntate Mutwa documented Black life and existence in pre colonial and the early colonial era .

It is a lyrical, informative and well penned offering of, poems, legends, reflections, and documentation of actual historical events.

He covers abantu's child bearing and rearing, marriage. medicine, education, justice, land, food, animals, and customs.

He helps contextualize the meaning of words like savage, civilization, heathen, witchcraft and primitive.

A necessary body of work which affirms Black greatness, resourcefulness, wisdom and resilience. A testimony that Black people were pathfinders in many fields before Africa was colonised

Misrepresentation of Black history by non Black historians and, the African belief of keeping knowledge and information a secret, to be divulged only to the Chosen Ones, motivated ntate Mutwa to write, to reveal all, to educate and to prevent erasure. .

He draws extensively from his world travels, lived experience, African mythology, Christian and African religions.

A book that reflects whom Blacks are, roots and origin. A coping mechanism as we manage the duality and double standard that has become our current existence. Furthermore, it is a reminder that African religion is not witchcraft.

[Charlene Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential read for those wanting to understand African mythology and essential belief systems.

[Mitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't have a category that fits this particular book, nor does the rating system do it justice. This much is certain, however: it is a lengthy book intended for a specialist audience for several reasons.

It opens with a section containing origin mythology, and I found that to be quite interesting and high quality.

It took a step downward from there, in my opinion, because it then went into a full length novel's worth of dynastic struggles during which there were frequent accounts of cruelty and violence.

After this there followed a jittery account that jumped from recitation of Bantu laws/customs to first person stories to third person accounts of events and on to Bantu message sticks, etc., without the benefit of intermediary transitions.

The author's purpose for writing the book was to help people understand better the mentality and ways of some Africans who had for years not talked to strangers about their customs, values and beliefs. He felt this necessary because outsiders were dictating disasterous policies on cultures they had no understanding or appreciation for.

There's no doubt this was true and still remains true to a lesser extent today.

However, the author also made a number of dubious claims that to me undermined his overall credibility. He himself acknowledged that these were things he simply believed to be true and didn't need evidence for, so he lost me there.

Additionally, he obviously wants you to appreciate his culture and accommodate it, but tells you things like this: if a man is murdered, it is necessary for his relatives to return that favor on the murderer or his family even if it takes generations. This means someone who isn't even born yet may be called upon to kill another person they do not know to avenge a wrong done between two people who are both long dead.

The author acknowledges some cultural aspects are negative, but there isn't s suggestion about what to do about them.

Hopefully from this brief and inadequate review you can at least take away an understanding of the limited audience this book would appeal to. It was interesting, but long and involved.

[Marie Theron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, an incredible read....this book actually zaps your energy and needs to be put down now and then! The stories are so intense, and the reader better be ready to accept the cruelty and violence which lies behind the history and myths of Africa.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favourite books of all time. I loved the storytelling and couldn't put it down. It was written in such a lovely style.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indispensable to the understanding of the Zulu culture. Well written and fascinating. I've read it several times and have a first edition copy in a place of honor on my bookshelves.

[Nana Fredua-Agyeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

For most Africans the history of their lives, their culture, their ancestors, begins from the point of entry of the unknown men with pale skin, who would later become the colonialists and the oversea slave traders. To most of us who have gone through formal education studying subjects like Social Studies, Life Skills and a bit of History, not as an Elective but as a core, the farthest we can trace our history is to the borders of the Mali, Songhai and Ghana Empires. Even then, we do not know how they are linked to our present selves. Thus, to ask a Ghanaian student - to be specific on what I can guarantee, though I know this might largely apply to several Africans - to think of his ancestors beyond this period is to ask him to risk haemorrhaging his brain cells or to cause him to hallucinate holographic images of people whose faces he cannot outline or describe and whose deeds he does not know.

Yet, it is ironical that these same folks who know nothing about themselves, their origins - for we all migrated from a source - will insist and claim certain traditions as their culture, insisting that 'this is not our culture' and yet be unable to define, to trace, to historically discuss that culture which they are trying to protect. And the authorities, the men who have to ensure that this problem is solved, look on unconcerned. The leaders - or as they prefer to call themselves, the politicians, who must invest - material and personnel - to ensure that this knowledge gap is bridged hardly ever think about it. But it is not for nothing that money is pumped into such studies of archaeological interest. The end result is not the museum such archaeological finds occupy; they are profounder than that. They are psychological.

continue reading here http://freduagyeman.blogspot.com/2013...

[Gugu Ntsobe]

WOW!

Bab' Credo Mutwa, what a book. this is such an amazing read, I started the book last year only to finish it this year! this book has got amazing insights on African history very intriguing and quite scary. I really enjoyed it and it made me want to know more about Black people's history who we are and where we really come from because from the book i learnt that we where a great people and we are made of a Powerful Beautiful People.

I am In-love!!

[Dwainia Tullis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reads like a movie! It brings culture to life. After reading this you will understand the value of culture worldwide.Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Makgatla Thepa-Lephale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very mind profound, mind blowing book about African stories. Credo Mutwa is beautifully narrating the stories in an amazing way that dispel all the wrong myth about African Culture.

[Cece · Rating 5 out of 5]

African mythology, poems, history, beautiful stories, a fresh outlook of what it means to be African and very educational.

[Wilhelm Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of a kind. Very special book. Baba Mutwa is an extraordinary person with a unique story from days and ages long gone. He´s obviously a story-telling person – orally around the fire to a captive audience. Yet, he´s mastered the writing part too – and in a foreign language and in long chapters and many books of note. Obviously, this guy should have worked as professor at some university in Africa – and had the brightest of today’s leaders in his class - working on those old stories as they enfold in our time. But who knows, why Jeremiah was in the cesspit and not in some classroom? Doesn´t make sense, but that´s how things are.
He has some wonderful thoughts about language, about interculturality and stuff as far apart as Latin and Zulu, Australia, Japan and the San of the Kalahari ... Many of his stories deserve to be challenged. I´m not the one to do that, but I´m sure that some wise people from up closer to the Equator would have something to say of those ancient myths concerning the origins of mankind, the various creation reports and the many histories that evolved not only on the African continent but beyond: Sudan, Congo and the Ethiopia features prominently besides those Arabs, Portuguese and other seafaring folk. Zimbabwe is closer to home, but still way outside my scope. Still, the old sage has deep tales and heart wrenching lore to proclaim about sacred places, holy rites and lost temples and sanctuaries. Stories of curses and long-lasting hatreds and revenges, because as the good Lord says: Your either for or against us! There´s no middle way…
The South Africa tales of yesteryear are news to me. A different perspective than those I had picked up before. Piet Retief as jovial Afrikaaner and respected partner. Not much animosity there, rather stories of deceit through sly Englishmen spying alongside and on their own and for their own hidden motives. Characterizations of the old kings as cruel and vengeful or just cowardly afraid. Interesting views. Would need some discussion with people, who know more. Testing, telling, evaluation – at best with teachers, historians and sages of the amaZulu in kwaZulu and missionaries too, plus those sangomas of the old ways – if they´re still around – and not just fallen into the commercialized trap – something of a parody of secular pastors…
His biography is long, sad and sometimes outright cruel and always unforgiving, but never sentimental. He talks without vengeance, but rather matter-of-factly. It takes him not just into the insides of catholic missions as choir boy and prospective priest, but also into subsequent training, initiation and induction into the other ways of Zulu wizardry and sorcery. This succession and history make for some serious reading. Unique and spellbinding. I would put it on the reading list for aspiring pastors in SA any day, but also onto that of any child going through the senior levels of schooling. It´s an eyeopener to the intrinsic ways of the Zulu first, but also that of the Bantu and Africans as a whole. Thinking about this book, would help understanding the other. I look forward to a chance to hear more about this book and discuss it with those, who would like to know Africa a bit better. This is a wonderful eye-opener to the stars and to the realms below – like the old translation of the 1st commandment read: “up in heaven, down on earth and that which lives in the water under the ground.” Tolle lege!

[Tanja Nayak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories are usually passed on by word of mouth in African culture. The men in the group would gather together and have what is called an "indaba," or discussion. Sometimes they might consult the wise old woman in the tribe, the "sangoma" for advice. There usually also is a wise old man, or "inyanga" in the tribe. Credo Mutwa was one such person. The wise old men and women in the tribe are responsible for passing on the tribe's stories and history to the next generation. They are also regarded as soothsayers who people consult for advice and in such circumstances they will throw ox bones on the ground for the purpose of divination. They are also well versed in herbal medicine and are skilled healers who use indigenous plants and herbs for healing purposes. One such herb is imphepho which is the equivalent of sage which is burned to purify the air. Buchu is another herb which is commonly used that has medicinal properties as an anti-inflammatory and diuretic. The herbal medicine is referred to as "muti." Many people in Africa still consult traditional healers, as well as modern doctors today. Avoid those who use animal products and report them to the South African Police, if necessary if they are poachers.
The history of the Bantu and Zulu people was passed down to Credo by this father. He decided to break with tradition a bit and write the stories of his people down to be preserved for future generations as he was afraid the stories would otherwise be lost.
The first part of book one sees the birth of Africa's first people from southwestern Africa and the second part sees the birth of the second legendary group in central Africa. In the same way that people in the tribe consult a wise man and a wise woman, the Creator is believed to be both masculine and feminine in character. The Great Mother/Goddess created everything at the bidding of the Great Spirit/God (God Almighty) in Zulu tradition. I particularly enjoyed the story of the "Tree of Life."
Some of the stories are written as prose, and some as fantasy-like stories. Some of the stories are sad, like how people were captured and then enslaved to extract gold from the earth. The stories have their fair share of legendary heroes and strong female protagonists, both good and evil.
I have read the book twice and always learn something new about Africa and this history of its people. It is a fascinating and entertaining read and a must-read for anyone interested in African history and culture. Would recommend.

[Susanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was never too interested in anything Bantu (be it the people, their customs or their languages). However, this book totally got me hooked - it is a true master piece! It took me some time to finish it, 700 pages are a lot after all. Having done African studies at university I knew about some of the things discussed but others were completely new and I esp. enjoyed the stories embedded in the sections containing purely factual knowledge. A must read for everyone interested in Africa!!!

[Makhosonke Collin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Isanusi Credo Mutwa set out to write something akin to Koran or bible for Abantu. his effort though is let down by the reptilean race that he included as our ancestors here. I will have loved to have read him interweaving most of the common folklores of our ppl and taking them further instead of the reptiles. otherwise its not bad especially for young ones looking for OUR STORIES.

[Apiwe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A children's book sort of like Lord of the rings you'd imagine but close to history not accurate but of the few close to beginnings of mankind and the movement of the Nguni. As the sharman approved, i'd suggest advise anyone captured by this information to refer to books by Zechariah Stitchin for more.

[Elan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a fairy tale.

This is African mythology.

It is gritty, fantastical, violent, graphic and wonderful tales that gripped me from the start to the end. An oral tradition written down by Credo Mutwa with a clean note - this story needs to evolve.

A terrific read for anyone with Africa in their blood.

[Jerard van der Walt · Rating 5 out of 5]

changed the way i look at africa forever.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty dense, but I enjoyed it.

[Chad Ferlito]

Amazing... Is very well written and translated for English readers...