A Sangoma in America, Africa in his Bones
In 1998 I attended a book signing at Borders Books (Sacramento) by David Cumes , a South African-born surgeon. His book "Inner Passages, Outer Journey" had just come out, and he was spellbinding audiences across the United States with his declaration that trips to the wilderness led to healing and discovery of the self. Not necessarily a new concept then, but he was certainly encouraging many people to visit places in his homeland, Southern Africa.As he talked about places in South Africa I sat quietly thinking of places in Zimbabwe he could have mentioned, and then he did: Matopo, Great Zimbabwe, Chimanimani, Nyanga. I bought the book immediately and had him autograph it: "To Emmanuel, hoping this reconnects you with your roots. Everything--healing included--began where you were born." Before the signature, he threw in a Shona phrase, "Fambai Zvakanaka." Then he talked some more about places in North America that were comparable to the ones he had menti...