Click to download PDF version: 3.87MB - Global Grey

23 At the Back of the Black Man's Mind By R. E. Dennett
Division 2.
MAMBOMA KAYI, acting in the place of MALUANGO as NTINU, presides over this
division, aided by NJIMBI LAMBA and the messenger MABUNDU MABUNDU (a kind of
chief of police), and if they cannot properly prove the person guilty, they call in the
NGANGA XIKETEMBI, who has two wisps of grass, a mat NKWALA, and a boy. The boy
lies upon the wisps and mat and the NGANGA tries to lift him up by the two ends. If the
name mentioned or thought of by him is that of the guilty party, the wisps and mat cling
to the body of the boy in such a way that he can easily be lifted up, and the pressure is
such on the body of the boy as to cause him at times to spit blood.
Division 3.
MAMBOMA, under his spiritual title NKANGA LUMBI, takes the place of MALUANGO as
NGANGA VUMBA aided by KONGOLAMBA and his MAFUKA; and if they are not satisfied
with the evidence they will call in the MKANGA NTALI, who has a small bundle of
medicines wrapped in cloth and feathers. This he keeps on smelling till he thinks of the
guilty one, when the odour confirms him in his suspicion.
Division 4.
MAMBOMA, in the place Of MALUANGO XIVANJI, aided by TATA LAMBA and
MAMBOMA MICITATA, tries the accused, and if unable to convict, calls in the NGANGA
XISENGO, who has a knife which he makes almost red-hot and passes across the palms
of the hands or calves of the legs of the accused. If there appears the smallest sign of a
blister, the person is considered guilty. (This custom is called XISENGO.)
Division 5.
VUTA MALEKA, the conciliator, takes the place of the king as MUENE, aided by the
MABUNDU and MANTu BOMA, and in the final appeal he calls in NGANGA SUKU, who
rubs the palms of his hands together, till he thinks of the name of the culprit, when his
hands refuse to meet but turn back to back.
Division 6.
No one can fill in the office of NKICI CI, so that the services of the KABA and
MALUNGONGOLO are called in with those of Nganga MPUKU NYAMBI who, if necessary,
looks into the magic mirror to find out who shall become the new NKICI CI or NGANGA
NVUMBA, who is then elected.
The Abbé Proyart says that everybody knew that when the king died MAKAYI would
succeed him, and other writers have also told us who it is that will succeed the king; is it
not possible that these authors have been in error, and that they have mistaken these
temporary occupiers of the offices of MALUANGO for his real successor, whom nobody
can name until he has been chosen and elected by MAMBOMA and the princes?
www.globalgrey.co.uk