“Kwantu means home” – Vusumzi Ngxande

For decades, African spirituality has been demonised or met with suspicion. Many people have had to choose between being a believer, usually in the Christian faith, or believing in their ancestors.

Yet often African cultural practices require the involvement of Ancestors in one form or another, which goes against Christian dogma.

Journey Kwantu is inspired by Vusumzi Ngxande’s popular podcast of the same name that delves into South African spiritual identity and beliefs and shows how it has evolved over hundreds of years. The book is rooted in extensive historical research, lived experiences and interviews with healers, teachers and ordinary people trying to live out their truth.

With a unique ability to simplify complex issues and ask taboo questions, the author endeavours to answers questions like, “Who are we?” and “How did we come to believe what we believe?”

In the process he deals with issues he has struggled with on his own spiritual journey, such as death and the afterlife and the authority of the Ancestors vs the Power of God to more practical matters like performing rituals in urban areas and understanding lineage and its impact on one’s spiritual life.

Deeply perceptive and engaging, Journey Kwantu offers a guide and spiritual sustenance to African believers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vusumzi Ngxande is a multidisciplinary creative, who started documenting ancestral ceremonies in 2014. He has written on identity, fatherhood and the black experience for publications such as Destiny Man, True Love, Afropolitan and Marvin. Vusumzi’s research into ancestral ceremonies has taken him across the country and he’s been embraced by several initial schools that have allowed him to witness their processes. In 2018 he launched an award-winning podcast called The Journey Kwantu that explores questions around African spirituality and identity. He is based in Johannesburg.

'Journey Kwantu: Exploring African Spirituality and Identity' is published by Jonathan Ball Publishers