‘Imithandazo YakwaNtu’
In IsiZulu prayer is umuthandazo, if we break this word down to a hyphenated word it becomes umu (becoming)-thanda (to love)-zo (moving). Thus, prayer within this register could be understood as a moving towards the essence of love (towards Umvelikuqala) or becoming love-like.
Another word for prayer is umkhuleko which means to be bound together in spirit. In this sense, these fundamental questions are then of interest: ‘What constitute prayer in Africa?’ and ‘What is the role of prayer in Africa?’ In seeking to respond to these questions, I invoke Princess Magogo’s lyrics on ‘Onoms’oPhezukonke’ which I regard as an example of an African prayer.
In the broadest sense, Magogo’s piece suggests that our ancestors (oNtu) based their religiosities on their relationship with the cosmos –– wherein they perceived being as a conversation between both the material and metaphysical worlds. Thus, prayer became a bridge between our immediate world and elsewhere. This mode of parallel existence is evident in African life, hence our ancestors constantly harnessed life through prayer, rituals, libations and song.
Nduduzo Makhathini
