The Soultown! Volume III: Issue 2 FEBRUARY 2019 | Page 28

THE GRIOT The Horsewoman’s Damballah Blues It was one of those quiet nights Under a full shining moon when Nyamuranga—named after the Highest divinity in Rwanda: Nyamurunga, the true, the great Begetter, le copulateur par excellence— Began acting strangely, Hissing like a snake Creeping onto the ground in a Snake-like curves. Suddenly, she hung Head downward from the Beams of the roof still Giggling, swinging, hissing. Nothing to worry about, Mambo Zora Neale Hurston Laveau Diagnosed. She is not ridden by Nyabingi, Biheko, The Mother Bearer. She is not suffering from Geno/Cide Ideology or Trauma.. She is ridden by DAMBALLAH WEDO from the Rada Nation -- Old Kingdom of Benin, now Nigeria, Togo, Benin -- of Spirits Loas. Saint Patrick in Haiti. The Loa of knowledge and fecundity. They called Mamagyombo Zora Neale Hurston Munyana Laveau -- A Kirwa village Mambo -- who rushed from her Mumbo Jumbo Kathedral to read the mystère. First, from Legba Papa Pierre Esu she asked for help -- Papa Pierre Petero Peter, open the gates for me. Papa Pierre Petero Peter nkingurira amarembo. Papa Legba Pierre ouvre la porte pour moi. Papa Esu Legba ouvre baye pour mwen, Ago eh. Papa Legba Exu ouvre baye pour meen, Ago eh. Papa Legba Echu open the gates for me, Ago eh. Papa Legba Esu open the gates for me, Ago eh Papa Pierre Petero Peter nkingurira ama- rembo, Ago eh! Then the mounter recognized the code: Nyamuranga chanted: DAMBALLA OUEDO FREDA TOCAN DAHOMEY DAMBALLAH DAMB-ALLAH DAMBALLA- ILAH DAMBALLAH DAN-DANGBE-ALLADA DAMBALLAH IN DAHOMEY DAN-DAN- BE-ALLADA IN DAN- HOMEY DAHOMEY Don’t be afraid of Damballah, Dear child. Damballah is not the Snake of Christian nightmares. Damballah made Moses the first Voodoo man. Damballah is the African Loa, Damballah is the heavenly Snake, the oldest Loa, the Sky Father, Primordial Maker: Loa of fertility, Father of us all. Damballah Ouedo. Ayda Wedo his Rainbow wife. Nyamuranga chanted: DAMBALLA OUEDO FREDA TOCAN DAHOMEY DAMBALLAH DAMB-ALLAH DAMBALLA- ILAH DAMBALLAH DAN-DANGBE-ALLADA DAMBALLAH IN DAHOMEY DAN-DAN- BE-ALLADA IN DAN-HOMEY DAMBALA DANBALA READ PART TWO IN MARCH 2019 ISSUE. I am Dr. Pierre-Damien Mvuyekure, The Soultown's Griot and I thank our African poetic ancestors for having SOUL! , © 2017 Digital & Print Magazine CONNECTING OUR CULTURE TO OUR CYBER & CONSCIOUS COMMUNITIES DR. PIERRE MVUYEKURE THE GRIOT IOWA [email protected] thesoultown.com See what’s happening in thesoultown.com! 28 FEBRUARY 2019 • CELEBRATING 2 YEARS OF CONNECTING OUR CULTURE TO OUR CYBER & CONSCIOUS COMMUNITIES • THESOULTOWN.COM