shaman – herbalist

WHO AM I?

I am a Shaman, a herbalist who acquired this knowledge from my ancestors. I received it from my parents. I was shaped by them and I am committed to transfer this knowledge to my children. Apart from this calling, I live a normal life as a farmer.

Working in life

It is important to do something in your life, to work. To help people, to be healthy and to cultivate the land. Work and action is the drive of life. Working is one of the greatest values ​​in life.

Relations between people. Live together

Zanzibaris are very close to each other. For us, relationships between people are important; being together, living together, doing everything together, eating meals together and spending time together. When somebody dies or when they get married, it’s important to invite neighbors and loved ones to be together at such times, to cooperate, invite one another. In Zanzibari culture, words of warmth and hospitality “Karibu” (welcome), “Kaa kitako”, “Chai” (I invite you to my home, sit down, rest, wait and have some tea) are important. The family should work together and help one another. The husband should help his wife and the wife her husband, and children should also help. Good behavior and respecting others is important in life. Parents should teach their children good behavior and good life. Then the rate of crime, prostitution or violence will drop.

Maintaining of own local culture

It is important to preserve your own culture. Many young Zanzibaris are trying to imitate European ways and adopt trends from there. For me it is important, and I am proud, that my family lives according to tradition and adheres to traditional rules of behavior, our customs, and dress code in the traditional way. Likewise, we eat in the traditional way using our hands and we eat traditional dishes. Parents should teach children their traditions at home.

Survival. Security

In life, it is important to be able to survive; to have something to eat and have money to buy food. Security is important, when you don’t have it, you can’t be happy. You can never be happy when you are afraid.

Education

Children have to attend school so that they can learn. When they learn, they will be able to get work and earn their living. We should devote time for children and educate them so that they can have a good life. By working, they will be able to enjoy the future.

Home

It is important to have a family and to be able to build a home for the family. For me, happiness is to spend time together with my whole family at the end of Ramadhan. When the whole family meets, a meal is prepared – pilau (rice cooked with varieties of spices). Children, adults, relatives and friends all eat together. There is such diversity, we meet together to show that we are all equal.

Money

Money is important because when you have it, you can buy food.

Enjoying life

It’s important to enjoy life.

 – Some people have money; they have many things but they are not happy.

It depends on the person and what he wants from life. We do not know what the heart of a given person really wants; a person often does not know what his heart wants for him to be happy. 

– What does the human heart want?

If you have a lot of money, first look at friends, if there is anyone who needs help, help him. Look at your family, are there people who need help, are there sick people? Help them, buy medicine, and visit them in the hospital. It will be food for your heart.

– How do you acquire happiness?

My advice is to help those people who need help. And trust God Allah. For me, happiness is everything that gives me joy in life. God gives us what we really need. He instructs us on what we should do to survive. He gives us the day. Even if we do not have money, or even if we have very little of it, He gives us the opportunity to experience the day and gives us just enough to survive the next day. He gives us joy each passing day. It gives me happiness when I wake up every morning and everything around me is fine; that my family is happy, and everything in the family goes well. If I have faith that Allah will take care of it, I will receive everything that I need to live. This assurance is what gives me happiness. If I wake up and I’m sick or when my family is sick, then it’s not good. Then I’m not happy.

Health

Currently, people do not eat what they should, they do not balance; a habit which destroys the body and it also makes it impossible to enjoy life to the fullest. People who want to live happily should also eat well and maintain a balance. Man should eat what grows around him. Here we eat potatoes, cassava and bananas. Natural medicine will survive all over the world. A long time ago, people used natural medicine and it helped them and they were healthy. Now people use medicine that has chemicals and problems start to emerge. I would like to say that they should use local herbs that give them good health and a sense of happiness.