The Akamba traditional religion is rich and has many different aspects to it. The community does not credit a single founder for their spiritual practices. Instead, they were developed over the centuries through collective reflections and practical approaches to their communal experiences. There is no particular name for this belief system, and the community keeps it alive by passing on their teachings through oral traditions such as poems and proverbs. As a result, their spiritual practices have become so tightly woven into the fabric of their social and cultural life, that it is almost impossible to separate the two.
The Kamba names for god
The Wakamba are monotheistic, meaning, they believe in the existence of one god. They refer to this god using four different names: Mumbi meaning creator, Mwatuangi meaning shaper, Ngai and Mulungu. Mulungu is omnipresent, and is accessible to anyone, anywhere and at any time, which is why the Akamba do not restrict themselves to a specific place or time of worship. They only congregate at sacred groves or shrines called mathembo during important occasions, to perform sacrifices and give offerings. The tree species preferred in an ithembo is called kiumo and the space is regarded as a sanctuary for animal and plant life. An example of a special Akamba ceremony is the thanksgiving harvest during which the sacred kilumi dance is performed. Kilumi is accompanied by a drum pattern and a vocalist, and it is considered so healing and powerful that it has, in the past, sparked anti-colonial movements led by famous Akamba warriors such as Syotune.
The Akamba approach to the universe
In regard to cosmology, the Akamba believe that there is only one realm within which all beings live, and this realm has two manifestations of reality: the visible and the invisible. Within the visible mode exist physical and material beings including natural resources and human beings, while in the invisible mode exist Mulungu and other spiritual beings, who live around us. It is therefore believed that when a human being dies, they do not cease to exist, but instead move into the invisible mode as spirits. Hence death is viewed as a stage of metamorphosis through which the immortal soul transforms from the physical into the spiritual.
This belief is the basis of the Akamba practice of ancestor veneration. They view spirits as the living dead who are still active members of the family. These ancestors must be fed through libations as a way of keeping their memories alive. They can also reincarnate into a newly born baby and extend their life in the physical mode, thereby continuing the fluid cycle of death and rebirth. Similar to the perceived immortality of human beings, the Akamba believe that, although the universe may change through natural occurrences such as floods and earthquakes, there is no end to it, and, thus, life itself is never-ending.
Additional spiritual practices
In Kambaland, communication with Mulungu can be done directly. However, it is more common to communicate with Mulungu through ancestral intermediaries or designated community elders. These elders are also in charge of officiating communal ceremonies, performing ritual cleansings and mediating during spirit possessions. The Wakamba also believe in good magic bestowed by Mulungu to healers and diviners, and bad magic granted to witches by evil spirits. The healers and diviners protect the community members from witchcraft through charms, amulets, special incantations and cuttings on the body.
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