㰀⼀琀搀㸀 㰀琀搀 瘀愀氀椀最渀㴀∀琀漀瀀∀ 眀椀搀琀栀㴀∀㔀瀀砀∀ 戀最挀漀氀漀爀㴀∀⌀ 昀 ∀㸀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀㰀⼀琀搀㸀 㰀琀搀 眀椀搀琀栀㴀∀㔀瀀砀∀㸀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀㰀⼀琀搀㸀
The Last Messenger
㰀栀㈀㸀䄀渀椀攀琀椀攀 䤀猀漀渀最 㰀⼀栀㈀㸀 㰀瀀㸀 吀栀攀礀 挀愀氀氀攀搀 栀椀洀 吀栀攀 䰀愀猀琀 䴀攀猀猀攀渀最攀爀⸀ 䠀椀猀 瀀爀攀搀椀挀琀椀漀渀猀 栀愀搀 琀栀攀 甀渀挀愀渀渀礀 瀀爀攀挀椀猀椀漀渀 漀昀 愀 挀栀椀猀攀氀⸀ 圀漀爀搀 眀攀渀琀 爀漀甀渀搀 琀栀愀琀 洀愀渀礀 栀攀愀搀猀 漀昀 猀琀愀琀攀猀 挀漀渀猀甀氀琀攀搀 栀椀洀 漀渀 琀栀攀 挀愀氀愀洀椀琀礀 琀栀愀琀 洀椀最栀琀 戀攀昀愀氀氀 琀栀攀椀爀 渀愀琀椀漀渀猀⸀ 䈀甀琀 眀栀攀爀攀 琀栀攀 瀀爀攀猀椀搀攀渀琀猀 猀琀漀瀀瀀攀搀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 瀀甀戀氀椀挀 瀀爀漀挀攀攀搀攀搀⸀ 䤀渀 吀栀攀 䰀愀猀琀 䴀攀猀猀攀渀最攀爀✀猀 眀攀戀猀椀琀攀Ⰰ 昀漀氀氀漀眀攀爀猀 瀀漀猀琀攀搀 瘀漀氀氀攀礀猀 漀昀 焀甀攀猀琀椀漀渀猀㨀 圀椀氀氀 䴀甀最愀戀攀 戀攀 漀甀猀琀攀搀㼀 圀栀漀 眀椀氀氀 搀椀猀挀漀瘀攀爀 琀栀攀 挀甀爀攀 昀漀爀 䄀䤀䐀匀㼀 圀栀愀琀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 琀栀攀 昀愀琀攀 漀昀 一攀瘀攀爀氀愀渀搀㼀 圀栀漀 眀椀氀氀 愀爀爀攀猀琀 伀猀愀洀愀㼀 㰀⼀瀀㸀On 12 May, The Last Messenger presented a lecture at the Centre for Religious Studies in London. When he appeared on stage, nine people on the front row, (mostly his followers), fell to the floor, in reverence. The man wore a red robe and black sandals. The followers analysed that. They said that the colour was symbolic. Red was the colour of earth, of fertility. His voice echoed in the hall as he spoke of his role: "I am not a medicine man. Neither am I a prophet. I am just a messenger of the ancestors. We cannot possibly speak of religion without touching the subject of the ancestors. Since ancestors are nowhere and yet everywhere, it is difficult to speak of them comprehensively."
㰀瀀㸀 䠀攀 瀀愀甀猀攀搀 愀渀搀 洀漀戀戀攀搀 栀椀猀 戀爀漀眀 眀椀琀栀 愀 栀愀渀搀欀攀爀挀栀椀攀昀⸀ 吀栀攀 愀甀搀椀攀渀挀攀 猀琀爀甀最最氀攀搀 琀漀 挀愀琀挀栀 愀 最氀椀洀瀀猀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 瀀椀攀挀攀 漀昀 挀氀漀琀栀㨀 椀琀 眀愀猀 爀攀搀⸀ 吀栀攀礀 攀砀挀栀愀渀最攀搀 欀渀漀眀椀渀最 最氀愀渀挀攀猀⸀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀"Many of you would wonder who an ancestor is," The Last Messenger quipped. "I will tell you. An ancestor is someone who died a good death after having faithfully practised and transmitted to his descendants certain laws. An ancestor is a link that fosters communion between the living and the dead."
㰀瀀㸀 吀栀攀 䰀愀猀琀 䴀攀猀猀攀渀最攀爀 愀爀最甀攀搀 琀栀愀琀 琀栀攀 氀椀瘀椀渀最 洀甀猀琀 攀砀瀀攀挀琀 洀甀挀栀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀椀爀 愀渀挀攀猀琀漀爀猀㨀 瀀爀漀琀攀挀琀椀漀渀 昀爀漀洀 猀椀挀欀渀攀猀猀Ⰰ 搀攀愀琀栀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 愀挀焀甀椀猀椀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 眀攀愀氀琀栀Ⰰ 氀漀渀最 氀椀昀攀Ⰰ 眀攀愀氀琀栀 漀爀 洀愀渀礀 挀栀椀氀搀爀攀渀⸀ 䄀渀 愀渀挀攀猀琀漀爀Ⰰ 栀攀 愀渀渀漀甀渀挀攀搀 眀愀猀 攀砀瀀攀挀琀攀搀 琀漀 戀攀 昀愀椀琀栀昀甀氀 琀漀 栀椀猀 攀愀爀琀栀氀礀 欀椀渀Ⰰ 琀漀 瀀爀漀瘀椀搀攀 愀渀猀眀攀爀猀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀椀爀 洀愀渀礀 渀攀攀搀猀⸀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀He spoke: "In Africa, religious beliefs are found in everyday life and no distinction is made between the sacred and the secular. The African therefore does not need to prove the existence of the Creator to anyone. He is self existing and needs no proof."
㰀瀀㸀 吀栀攀爀攀 眀攀爀攀 洀愀渀礀 焀甀攀猀琀椀漀渀猀 愀昀琀攀爀眀愀爀搀猀⸀ 匀漀洀攀漀渀攀 眀愀渀琀攀搀 琀漀 欀渀漀眀 眀栀礀 琀栀攀 愀渀挀攀猀琀漀爀猀 搀椀搀 渀漀琀 猀琀漀瀀 琀栀攀 吀猀甀渀愀洀椀⸀ 䤀昀 琀栀攀 挀爀攀愀琀漀爀 栀愀搀 猀漀 洀甀挀栀 瀀漀眀攀爀 眀栀礀 挀漀甀氀搀渀✀琀 栀攀 攀渀搀 瀀漀瘀攀爀琀礀 椀渀 䄀昀爀椀挀愀㼀 圀栀礀 搀椀搀渀✀琀 栀攀 搀漀 猀漀洀攀琀栀椀渀最 愀戀漀甀琀 琀栀攀 挀漀爀爀甀瀀琀 氀攀愀搀攀爀猀 椀渀 琀栀愀琀 挀漀渀琀椀渀攀渀琀㼀 圀栀礀 搀椀搀 琀栀攀 最攀渀漀挀椀搀攀 椀渀 刀眀愀渀搀愀 栀愀瀀瀀攀渀㼀 圀攀爀攀 琀栀攀 愀渀挀攀猀琀漀爀猀 渀漀琀 搀爀甀渀欀 昀爀漀洀 搀爀椀渀欀椀渀最 猀漀 洀甀挀栀 戀氀漀漀搀㼀 㰀⼀瀀㸀The Last Messenger answered these questions. The press reported that his countenance did not change, that his smile illuminated the hall.
㰀瀀㸀 ∀吀栀攀 䌀爀攀愀琀漀爀 椀猀 愀渀 愀渀最爀礀 愀渀搀 洀攀爀挀椀昀甀氀 漀渀攀Ⰰ∀ 吀栀攀 䰀愀猀琀 䴀攀猀猀攀渀最攀爀 爀攀瘀攀愀氀攀搀⸀ ∀䠀攀 椀猀 戀攀栀椀渀搀 愀氀氀 琀栀攀 攀瘀攀渀琀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀 眀漀爀氀搀⸀ 䠀攀 椀猀 琀栀攀 䘀漀甀渀琀愀椀渀 漀昀 氀椀昀攀 愀渀搀 瀀漀眀攀爀⸀ 圀栀愀琀 琀栀攀 眀漀爀氀搀 椀猀 攀砀瀀攀爀椀攀渀挀椀渀最 椀猀 愀 瀀栀愀猀攀⸀ 䄀渀搀 氀椀欀攀 琀栀攀 渀椀最栀琀Ⰰ 琀栀椀猀 眀椀氀氀 瀀愀猀猀⸀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀The Last Messenger could only spare a private consultation with Ralph, a professor of history.
㰀瀀㸀 ∀倀爀漀昀攀猀猀漀爀 刀愀氀瀀栀Ⰰ∀ 吀栀攀 䰀愀猀琀 䴀攀猀猀攀渀最攀爀 漀昀昀攀爀攀搀 栀椀猀 栀愀渀搀猀⸀ ∀䠀漀眀 洀愀礀 䤀 栀攀氀瀀 礀漀甀㼀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀The professor remained silent. He tapped his feet on the padded floor. Perhaps he was crazy to be there. He had written several papers on religion in Africa. He had dismissed the likes of The Last Messenger as fakes, evil geniuses who manipulated the poor people of Third World countries. Why was he there then?
㰀瀀㸀 ∀倀爀漀昀攀猀猀漀爀Ⰰ∀ 琀栀攀 䰀愀猀琀 䴀攀猀猀攀渀最攀爀 挀愀氀氀攀搀 猀漀昀琀氀礀⸀ ∀夀漀甀爀 栀攀愀爀琀 戀氀攀攀搀猀⸀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀"Yes, my heart bleeds."
㰀瀀㸀 吀栀攀礀 猀琀愀爀攀搀 愀琀 攀愀挀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 眀栀椀氀攀 琀椀洀攀 猀攀攀洀攀搀 猀琀椀氀氀 愀渀搀 昀爀愀洀攀搀⸀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀"Life is made of journeys," the Last Messenger growled. "For some the journey never ends, it's almost everlasting. Many journey in search of wisdom, love and fortress. Many unfortunately, never find the solace they seek."
㰀瀀㸀 吀栀攀 䰀愀猀琀 䴀攀猀猀攀渀最攀爀 渀漀琀攀搀 琀栀攀 搀椀猀挀漀洀昀漀爀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 瀀爀漀昀攀猀猀漀爀 昀愀搀椀渀最 愀眀愀礀Ⰰ 昀愀氀氀椀渀最 漀昀昀 氀椀欀攀 搀爀礀 氀攀愀瘀攀猀 漀渀 愀 栀愀爀洀愀琀琀愀渀 洀漀爀渀椀渀最⸀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀"Messenger," Ralph"s voice quivered, "do you think that I am losing my sanity? It worries me, you see, the way my mind goes back and forth, the way my heart hammers and peace eludes me."
㰀瀀㸀 吀栀攀 䰀愀猀琀 䴀攀猀猀攀渀最攀爀 氀愀甀最栀攀搀⸀ 䤀琀 眀愀猀 猀愀椀搀 琀栀愀琀 栀攀 爀愀爀攀氀礀 氀愀甀最栀攀搀⸀ 刀愀氀瀀栀 眀愀猀 樀甀猀琀 漀渀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 瀀爀椀瘀椀氀攀最攀搀 昀攀眀 眀栀漀 眀椀琀渀攀猀猀攀搀 栀椀猀 氀愀甀最栀琀攀爀⸀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀"My dear professor, you belong to that category of people who journey in vain to seek inner peace."
㰀瀀㸀 ∀圀栀礀㼀 䤀 栀愀瘀攀 爀攀愀搀 戀漀漀欀猀⸀ 䤀 栀愀瘀攀 眀爀椀琀琀攀渀Ⰰ 漀戀猀攀爀瘀攀搀 愀渀搀 猀琀甀搀椀攀搀 ⸀ ⸀ ⸀∀㰀⼀瀀㸀"Knowledge is not hidden in books. Knowledge is bestowed by the Creator.
He alone decides who to give wisdom…your hands." 㰀瀀㸀 ∀圀栀愀琀㼀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀"Give me your hands."
㰀瀀㸀 吀栀攀 瀀爀漀昀攀猀猀漀爀 攀砀琀攀渀搀攀搀 栀椀猀 愀爀洀猀⸀ 吀栀攀 䰀愀猀琀 䴀攀猀猀攀渀最攀爀 琀爀愀挀攀搀 琀栀攀 氀椀渀攀猀 椀渀 栀椀猀 瀀愀氀洀猀⸀ 䠀攀 挀氀漀猀攀搀 栀椀猀 攀礀攀猀⸀ 䤀琀 眀愀猀 猀愀椀搀 琀栀愀琀 栀攀 猀愀眀 眀攀氀氀 眀栀攀渀 栀椀猀 攀礀攀猀 眀攀爀攀 挀氀漀猀攀搀⸀ 䠀攀 戀攀最愀渀 琀栀攀 樀漀甀爀渀攀礀 琀栀攀渀⸀ 䄀 洀愀稀礀 樀漀甀爀渀攀礀 漀昀 琀漀爀洀攀渀琀 愀渀搀 搀椀猀挀漀瘀攀爀礀⸀ 䠀攀 攀渀琀攀爀攀搀 琀栀攀 瀀爀漀昀攀猀猀漀爀✀猀 椀渀渀攀爀洀漀猀琀 挀栀愀洀戀攀爀猀⸀ 䠀攀 挀氀椀洀戀攀搀 猀攀瘀攀爀愀氀 猀琀愀椀爀挀愀猀攀猀⸀ 䈀甀琀 漀渀 攀愀挀栀 氀攀瘀攀氀 漀昀 琀栀攀 猀琀攀瀀 眀愀猀 愀 洀愀猀欀Ⰰ 愀 洀愀猀欀 琀栀愀琀 猀栀攀搀 琀攀愀爀猀⸀ 䠀攀 洀漀瘀攀搀 焀甀椀挀欀氀礀⸀ 䈀甀琀 琀栀攀 洀愀猀欀 眀愀猀 攀瘀攀爀礀眀栀攀爀攀⸀ 䠀攀 琀爀椀攀搀 琀漀 眀愀氀欀 眀椀琀栀 最爀攀愀琀 挀愀爀攀☀㰠⼀瀀㸀"I see a mask, professor."
㰀瀀㸀 刀愀氀瀀栀 眀愀猀 瀀攀琀爀椀昀椀攀搀⸀ ∀䄀 洀愀猀欀㼀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀"A weeping mask."
㰀瀀㸀 吀栀攀 瀀爀漀昀攀猀猀漀爀 昀攀氀琀 愀 猀攀渀猀愀琀椀漀渀 椀渀 栀椀猀 琀栀爀漀愀琀⸀ 倀攀爀栀愀瀀猀 栀攀 眀愀猀 最漀椀渀最 琀漀 搀椀攀⸀ 䠀攀 眀愀猀 最漀椀渀最 琀漀 搀椀攀 琀栀攀渀 椀渀 琀栀攀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀挀攀 漀昀 琀栀椀猀 䄀昀爀椀挀愀渀⸀ 圀漀甀氀搀 栀攀 戀攀 洀漀甀爀渀攀搀㼀 㰀⼀瀀㸀"What type of mask is that?" He was surprised he could still speak.
㰀瀀㸀 ∀䄀渀 䄀昀爀椀挀愀渀 洀愀猀欀 眀椀琀栀 眀栀椀猀欀攀爀猀⸀ 吀栀愀琀 洀愀猀欀 椀猀 椀渀 礀漀甀爀 戀攀搀爀漀漀洀 渀漀眀⸀ 䤀琀 搀漀攀猀 渀漀琀 戀攀氀漀渀最 琀栀攀爀攀⸀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀The professor fell to the floor. (Later when he reported this to his friends, they said it must have been his knees. Professor Joe said he suspected Ralph had always had arthritis.)
㰀瀀㸀 ∀夀漀甀 洀愀礀 琀栀椀渀欀 琀栀愀琀 愀 洀愀猀欀 椀猀 樀甀猀琀 愀 洀愀猀欀Ⰰ∀ 吀栀攀 䰀愀猀琀 䴀攀猀猀攀渀最攀爀 猀愀椀搀⸀ ∀䈀甀琀 䤀 愀洀 愀昀爀愀椀搀 椀琀 椀猀 渀漀琀⸀ 䄀 洀愀猀欀 栀愀猀 椀琀猀 漀眀渀 猀漀甀氀⸀ 䤀琀 栀愀猀 琀栀攀 挀愀瀀愀挀椀琀礀 琀漀 栀漀氀搀 愀渀搀 攀瘀漀欀攀 洀攀洀漀爀椀攀猀Ⰰ 琀漀 戀甀椀氀搀 戀爀椀搀最攀猀 琀漀 瀀愀猀琀 琀椀洀攀猀Ⰰ 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀猀 愀渀搀 瀀氀愀挀攀猀⸀ 夀漀甀 洀甀猀琀 爀攀琀甀爀渀 琀栀椀猀 洀愀猀欀 琀漀 椀琀猀 漀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀猀 愀渀搀 瀀氀愀挀攀☀∠㰀⼀瀀㸀When Ralph rushed out of the private room, covering his ears and screaming invectives, his colleagues in psychiatry offered to treat him.
㰀瀀㸀 一漀戀漀搀礀 欀渀攀眀 栀漀眀 琀栀攀 䰀愀猀琀 䴀攀猀猀攀渀最攀爀 氀攀昀琀 䔀渀最氀愀渀搀⸀ 䌀爀椀琀椀挀猀 漀昀 琀栀攀 䰀愀戀漀甀爀 最漀瘀攀爀渀洀攀渀琀 猀眀漀爀攀 栀攀 琀漀漀欀 愀搀瘀愀渀琀愀最攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 氀愀砀 椀洀洀椀最爀愀琀椀漀渀 猀礀猀琀攀洀 椀渀 䈀爀椀琀愀椀渀 愀渀搀 猀渀攀愀欀攀搀 漀甀琀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 漀渀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 氀漀漀猀攀 戀漀爀搀攀爀猀⸀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀But his followers said that he simply vanished, as he was known to have special powers.
㰀瀀㸀 䠀漀眀攀瘀攀爀Ⰰ 椀渀 栀椀猀 眀攀戀猀椀琀攀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 昀漀氀氀漀眀椀渀最 眀攀攀欀Ⰰ 吀栀攀 䰀愀猀琀 䴀攀猀猀攀渀最攀爀 眀爀漀琀攀㨀 ∀一攀瘀攀爀 洀椀渀搀 琀栀攀 挀愀氀愀洀椀琀椀攀猀 眀攀 愀爀攀 昀愀挀椀渀最 渀漀眀⸀ 䰀椀欀攀 渀椀最栀琀Ⰰ 琀栀椀猀 眀椀氀氀 瀀愀猀猀⸀∀ 㰀⼀瀀㸀 㰀栀爀 ⼀㸀Anietie Isong
㰀瀀㸀䄀渀椀攀琀椀攀 䤀猀漀渀最✀猀 渀愀琀椀瘀攀 氀愀渀最甀愀最攀 椀猀 䤀戀椀戀椀漀Ⰰ 漀渀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 洀愀渀礀 搀椀愀氀攀挀琀猀 椀渀 猀漀甀琀栀攀爀渀 一椀最攀爀椀愀⸀ 䠀攀 戀攀最愀渀 眀爀椀琀椀渀最 椀渀 䔀渀最氀椀猀栀 椀渀 瀀爀椀洀愀爀礀 猀挀栀漀漀氀⸀ 䔀渀最氀椀猀栀Ⰰ 栀攀 猀愀礀猀Ⰰ 漀昀昀攀爀猀 栀椀洀 ∀愀 爀椀挀栀 瀀愀氀攀琀琀攀 漀昀 眀漀爀搀猀 琀漀 挀栀漀漀猀攀 昀爀漀洀⸀ 䤀渀 琀栀椀猀 氀愀渀最甀愀最攀Ⰰ 䤀 挀愀渀 瀀氀愀礀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 眀椀琀栀 猀礀渀漀渀礀洀猀 愀渀搀 愀渀琀漀渀礀洀猀⸀ 䘀漀爀 椀渀猀琀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䤀 挀愀渀 甀猀攀 琀栀攀 昀漀氀氀漀眀椀渀最 猀礀渀漀渀礀洀猀㨀 漀戀猀琀愀挀氀攀猀Ⰰ 椀洀瀀攀搀椀洀攀渀琀Ⰰ 栀甀爀搀氀攀 愀渀搀 猀渀愀最 琀漀 爀攀昀攀爀 琀漀 琀栀攀 眀漀爀搀Ⰰ 瀀爀漀戀氀攀洀⸀ 䤀渀 䤀戀椀戀椀漀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 瘀漀挀愀戀甀氀愀爀礀 椀猀 氀椀洀椀琀攀搀⸀∀ 䄀渀椀攀琀椀攀✀猀 眀漀爀欀猀 栀愀瘀攀 戀攀攀渀 瀀甀戀氀椀猀栀攀搀 椀渀 㰀攀洀㸀伀欀椀欀攀Ⰰ 䘀愀爀愀昀椀渀愀Ⰰ 匀瀀椀爀椀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 䌀漀洀洀漀渀眀攀愀氀琀栀Ⰰ 一攀眀 䘀椀挀琀椀漀渀㰀⼀攀洀㸀 愀渀搀 漀琀栀攀爀 洀攀搀椀愀⸀ 䠀攀 氀椀瘀攀猀 䰀攀椀挀攀猀琀攀爀Ⰰ 䔀渀最氀愀渀搀⸀ 㰀戀爀 ⼀㸀 㰀搀椀瘀 椀搀㴀∀氀漀最漀∀㸀㰀攀洀㸀䤀渀 倀漀猀猀攀㨀㰀⼀攀洀㸀 倀漀琀攀渀琀椀愀氀氀礀Ⰰ 洀椀最栀琀 戀攀 ⸀ ⸀ ⸀ 㰀⼀搀椀瘀㸀 㰀瀀㸀㰀椀洀最 猀爀挀㴀∀琀攀搀栀攀愀搀⸀最椀昀∀ 愀氀椀最渀㴀∀爀椀最栀琀∀ 愀氀琀㴀∀氀漀最漀∀ ⼀㸀㰀⼀瀀㸀 㰀栀㌀㸀㰀愀 栀爀攀昀㴀∀栀琀琀瀀㨀⼀⼀眀攀戀搀攀氀猀漀氀⸀挀漀洀⼀䤀渀倀漀猀猀攀⼀椀渀搀攀砀⸀栀琀洀∀ 愀氀椀最渀㴀∀爀椀最栀琀∀㸀 刀攀琀甀爀渀㰀⼀愀㸀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀☀渀戀猀瀀㬀 㰀⼀栀㌀㸀
㰀⼀琀搀㸀㰀⼀琀爀㸀㰀⼀琀愀戀氀攀㸀㰀⼀挀攀渀琀攀爀㸀㰀⼀戀漀搀礀㸀㰀⼀栀琀洀氀㸀