African Cosmology of the Bantu-Kongo

[Olùkọ́ Ọbádélé]

African Cosmology of the Bantu-Kongo



Rhetorically brilliant - how/why village society works
In the first chapter, "Kongo Cosmology in Graphics", Mr. Bunseki utilizes an ingenious series of geometric figures/diagrams to outline the cosmological/linguistic underpinnings of Bantu-Kongo society in the villages where he grew up and has lived for over 40 years. As in other African societies, so-called societal and ritual categories often overlap in many different ways - things aren't always as they seem, but this is why things work so well and are expressive of so much vitality. Everything interpenetrates with everything else, in numerous ways, and on numerous levels, and from numberless standpoints. Much is made in a few short sentences here and there of interactions of forms/fronts/loci of energy.

The figures aren't referenced directly in the text, so you have to intuit your way through. Though annoying at first, this ends up being the best way to grasp the concepts at a fundamental level. You tend to "hear" what he's telling you as you're scanning the images, more akin to oral traditional ways of gaining knowledge, even though ostensibly it's being done to you via a printed medium. He uses native Kongo words to illustrate his lead concepts, even offering entire sentences, which he then translates and/or offers commentary on, at times creatively bending and distorting the English language rather than offering up a weak-kneed or water-down version.

The chapter begins as an exposition of the origin of the elemental earth/cosmos, and proceeds to illuminate different general stages of planetary life. It then illustrates beautifully the living, breathing relationship between this macrocosmic vision and the comings and goings of individual humans in the cyclic dynamics and inter-meshing forces of family, clan, and society. This includes of course the world before birth and after death (that of the ancestors) as theirs is a [reincarnational] version of reality, every aspect full of dynamism, and of communication.

The book, though slim, packs more and more potency the more you study it, even in fits and starts, rather than just reading it straight through. Even when you are trying to skim the text, you feel the forces symbolized therein grabbing at you, seeking to draw you into the world being portrayed. Yes, this book is rather alive.

Next chapter: "The African Concept of Law and Crime"- there are no law books in traditional society. In large sections of Africa, all legal, political and societal matters are ensconced in a plethora of expressive proverbs which all members of the village have access to, depending on the extent of their memorization skills. So when a legal matter comes before the village, all those present act as 'lawyers', not for and against, but rather to flesh out the problem and to seek resolution. Any metaphor(s) enshrined in this or that proverb or folktale may be cited in order to get a glimpse of the energy of the moment and/or a grasp of the situation at hand.

In the following chapter, "Historical Background of the Kongo Cultural Zone", Mr. Bunseki utilizes a large number of such proverbs to give a sense of the outlines of how Kongo society works. One ends up with a vision of a society that is/was probably pure democracy and pure communalism at the same time, prior to their eventual divergence. For instance: all land was held in common by the community . . . No one could become too rich, as that threatens the stability of the overall community . . . All important decisions are made in common. And leaders act as servants of the community, not as its rulers.

Of course, none of this was known by the European colonizers of Africa, mainly because they never spoke any of the native languages, all the better to ignore Africans' humanity in order to exploit the continent's many resources. Thus Africans were portrayed as ignorant savages; their languages and customs were characterized as mumbo-jumbo.

Bunseki's grasp of the subject matter is powerful, his delivery even more so - both very expressive, and full of truthfulness. He is rhetorically/poetically very sensitive to the needs of African society to find a way back to its roots, in order that the usual political excesses seen in recent years will hopefully be turned around, and the ancient order be allowed to re-establish itself.

At the end of this chapter he outlines and (provides another diagram for) how perception (via sound,, sight, etc.) propagates in space; but expands/confounds the customary "scientific" conception by postulating/explaining how such things as dreams propagate as well.

The final chapter ["The 'V': Basis of All Realities"] is even more astounding than what's come before . . . Here is where the esoteric nature of Bunseki's training is showered upon the reader. There are several more figures/diagrams by which Bunseki opens up the inner heart of the matter . . . You'll emerged cleansed, somewhat more enlightened (depending on previous training/experience and the temporary condition of your mind and nervous system, of course). Your view of our universe will have been clarified, and amplified.

Here, one diagram shows the seven cosmic directions, in an almost identical fashion to what many of us studying Native American traditions have come to know. But then the teacher opens up the seventh direction and uses a series of diagrams to really initiate the great work, provided the reader has followed along up to this point. The way he maps it out and describes it is exquisite, inspired, intuitive and wholeheartedly alive. Give Nganga Fu-Kiau all of the stars you can find for this work . . . He's worth at least that much.