This was originally posted on 2/12/2010 on the Land of Kam website.
Something got a hold of me
Oh yes it did one day
Something got a hold of me
I went to a meeting one night
And my heart wasn’t right
Something got a hold of me
This is a song that I remember hearing sung at my church as a child called Something Got a Hold of Me. Usually only the chorus part was sung and it was sung in traditional call-and-response fashion. It is what came to mind when I look at some of these sites of people claiming that the Kamitic people were all of that. I mean don’t get me wrong, the Kamau accomplished a lot and made a lot of contributions, but some people influenced by the media, archeology and sheer fantasy have just mystified the Kamitic/Kemetic people and tradition to no end. This is why, it amazes me how people talk about how the Kamitic/Kemetic people did this and that, and make it seem like these people were just extraordinary people just walking around on Cloud 9. I have even come across some authors that have went so far as to state that the Kamitic/Kemetic people didn’t even need food to eat and could survive on just breathing air. This is not only misleading but it is ridiculously dangerous especially for the newcomer. I wondered how could people write this stuff and why would people even follow someone that would say something like this. Then, I was reminded by my own aakhu (ancestors) that I use to fall for the OKE-DOKE as well because, this is what happens when you don’t have a relationship with Nebertcher – The Lord of Everything – through your ancestors (aakhu) and guardian spirits (netcharu). Basically, you fall for anything all because it sounds good.
When you have a relationship with the Divine through your aakhu and netcharu. The aakhu will visit you in your dreams, visions, etc. and tell you through signs, “This is crap, don’t follow”. Then the netcharu will come down (or up) through various people even complete strangers and protect you from others as well.
A true analysis of the Kamitic/Kemetic history and their way of life will reveal that the Kamitic/Kemetic people were able to accomplish what they did because for one (1) the Nile provided them with an endless source of resources. With no worry on where the next meal is going to come they were able to focus on other things. Second (2), they were practically isolated from the rest of the world for a number of years, which allowed them to ponder on different things. Last, but not least (3) they had to depend upon themselves and each other. All of this resulted in them creating their philosophical ways of life that was based upon practicality, which is at the center of all traditional African practices and sciences, “Does it work”.
This romanticized, Kamitic/Kemetic view of spirituality that has people thinking that all they have to do is adopt a vegetarian lifestyle, meditate, wear some Egyptian looking clothing, Egyptian jewelry and even take on an Egyptian name is not African and it is not African spirituality. Every true practitioner of Afrikan spirituality knows that Ancient African spirituality is holistic and true holisitic philosophy or holism means there has to be Maa (balance, order, law, etc.) between both the spiritual and physical realms. In other words, it is a life change or a Way of Life because a change has occurred within. That something that creates the change is what Christians call the Holy Ghost and what the Kamitic people called Ra or Rau.
For a complete discourse and in-depth analysis see:
MAA AANKH: Finding God the Afro-American Way, by Honoring the Ancestors and Guardian Spirits.