Khama protected by ancestral spirits - Elder

Fire churches are playing with fire to disregard ancestors

 

If fire churches do not stop doubting the existence of ancestral spirits, ancestors are going to punish them, an elder from Goo Moremi in the Tswapong area, has warned.

In an interview with The Midweek Sun last Saturday, the elder Ralebanta Baloganye said that they are unshaken in their belief in ancestors. He is well respected in the area as the man who hears and speaks to ancestors directly on behalf of the community.

Known as Dikomana, these are community leaders believed to have access to ancestors. The people of Goo Moremi have for many years been known for their belief in ancestral spirits. Baloganye is responsible, among other Dikomana, for interpreting the wishes and concerns of Badimo. First, he explains the taboos for Goo Moremi Gorge, which has over the years attracted tourists. Whistling is not allowed as doing so would make one disappear. The gorge, he says, is highly protected by the ancestors and they require order there.  

The gorge also protects the community, he says. Pools in the gorge are reserved for the Badimo so no swimming is allowed. Baloganye says that the spirits always tell him when an evil person is coming. But away from the gorge, villagers are supposed to abide by the instructions of Dikomana. The old man says that the ancestors in Goo Moremi have done them so much good. “If we ask for rain, developments, marriages, and healing, they give them to us,” he states, adding that if a member of the community is sick or has problems finding a job, they meet at the traditional Kgotla and slaughter a goat and make obeisance to the ancestors.

“Within a short period of time, you are going to get what you asked for, or if you were sick, they tell me who is behind your illness,” he says. However, Sedimo in the Goo Moremi is facing a huge challenge from what Baloganye calls chaos and disrespect by Pentecostal churches, which he refers to as Fire churches. He says Pentecostal churches in the area have taken the youth off Sedimo and deceived them into believing ancestors do not exist. “They are playing with fire. The community is messed up because of them but ancestors in this area are the reason we exist,” he says. According to Baloganye, it is their norm at Goo Moremi that during night vigils, Badimo have a way of ‘visiting’ the family of the deceased to tell them the cause of his or her death.

And when this happens, he says, lights in the village, in every household must be switched off. He states that fire churches have taught their members to denounce that practice. “Ancestors operate in the dark and these new churches have taught other villagers to undermine Sedimo,” he says with clear anger in his eyes.

Meanwhile, one of the youthful pastors from Goo Moremi explained that the belief in ancestors is demonic because ancestors are dead people. “We want to deliver people from this devil worship. There is only one God and He didn’t say anywhere in the Bible that we should switch off lights during funerals,” he says, advising people to read 1 Timothy 4:1, Luke 16:20-31, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, Hebrews 9:27 and Revelation 20:11-15. ‘Khama belongs here’

Baloganye says that President Khama is a firm believer in the power of ancestors. He says that the president is well versed in issues pertaining to ancestral spirits. “He respects them so much, and he knows that they are the ones behind his good leadership and they protect him,” he says. He added that the president attends their Kgotla meeting every now and then. “Sedimo sa bo Ramapulane se a mo rata ka gore o a se tlotla,” he concludes.