Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa: Zulu High Sanusi (Profiles in Healing series) [Hardcover]

Bradford Keeney PhD (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Profiles in Healing series | Publication Date: April 1, 2002

Vusumazulu Credo Mutwa tells the story of his life as an artist, political activist, and healer. Mutwa, the most famous African traditional healer of the 20th century, shares the wisdom of Africa’s traditional sangomas and healers in this beautiful volume, which includes an audio CD that captures the prayers, sacred songs, and sounds of the culture. In addition to his works as a healer and champion of native South Africans and their culture, Mutwa is an outspoken artist and critic best known for his sculpture and paintings. Includes audio CD.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Soul-stirring quotations, personal narratives . . . luxurious photographs, and compact discs of prayers, sacred songs, ceremonies, and teachings." -- Spirituality & Health

"The wisdom of Africa surfacing today begins with Nelson Mandela and Credo Mutwa-Mutwa's mythology complements Mandela's political journey." -- Lusiah Teish, author of Jambalaya and Carnival of the Spirit

"[A]n intimate conversation—words from a holy person to all humankind . . . Exquisitey produced." -- Science and Spirit, March/April 2004

About the Author

Bradford Keeney, PhD, is the editor of the previous Profiles of Healing books and is the author of Shaking Out the Spirits, Aesthetics of Change, and Mind in Therapy.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: Leete'S Island Books (April 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0918172268
• ISBN-13: 978-0918172266
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,244,872 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rambling, incisive account of Mutwa's life journey, March 6, 2003

By 

Phil Rogers (Ann Arbor, Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa: Zulu High Sanusi (Profiles in Healing series) (Hardcover)

In this monograph are contained a plethora of poetic nuggets expressing wisdom and power. Though Mr. Mutwa fairly skims over a lot of territory, at critical junctures he dips into the fountainhead of traditional and experiential knowledge which he has become heir to during his long life.

There are items of spiritual knowledge that I came into contact with while studying to take initiations from Peruvian shamans of the High Altiplano eight or so years ago, which I found echoed in rather precise detail here. I have never seen them anywhere else. And this book was only published a couple of years ago.

Please note that there are less than 100 pages of actual written text (the rest of the book is filled with lots of color photos of his giant sculptural work and various other photos of his environs, himself, his friends and relatives.

On the CD (also 5 stars):

"Call of the Sacred Drums" 1:48 [inspired, traditional Zulu drumming/singing, medium tempo]

"The Incredible Credo Mutwa" 4:11 [speech honoring Mutwa, by Otsile Ntsoan, in English and Zulu: very beautiful & inspiring]

"Nduli" 2:11 [traditional Zulu drumming/homophonic choral singing, medium tempo]

"Isindawo" 3:43 [traditional Zulu drumming/homophonic choral singing, medium tempo]

"My Initiation Story" 38:29 [Mutwa tells part of his story, mentioning the severe purification practices one must undergo, and ritual dancing, 'kundalini' experiences, astral travel, unity consciousness and beyond, development of compassion and experiences of ecstasy, distant sensing. Note that this story is transcribed as part of the text of the book.]

"Umtchongola" 3:04 [traditional up-tempo Zulu dance drumming]

"Makhosi Asevukile" 2:59 [traditional Zulu homophonic choral singing with drum accompaniment, slow tempo]

"Sele" 3:27 [traditional Zulu dance drumming/singing; with a long, very slow recitative sung as an introduction, punctuated with drum rolls; and with a similar postlude]

"Blessing by Vusamazulu" 6:31

"African Friends" 3:05 (lighthearted music & lyrics by Keeney, in American folk-pop style, sung by the Wade Sisters)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!, January 1, 2010

By 

Sam Dudgeon "Maestro" (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa: Zulu High Sanusi: Zulu High Sanusi (Profiles in Healing series) (Hardcover)

I picked this book up to read over the summer as a friend of mine had this who is about to travel to africa. I was absolutely mesmerised by the tales being told of Credos life. I could not put this down i finished this book withtin half a day. Great insight into a Zulu sharmans intiation processes he had to go through to become what he is today, poignant in parts. Not having much political knowledge about Africa this has book has given me a thirst for more.