DEAD COMING BACK

The basis of this drama was the African worldview about reincarnation. The belief is that every child is someone in the family who has died and is now coming back. I quote from Kasongo Munza's book:

C. Because of these beliefs, the logical conclusion is that there is reincarnation.

1. Those who have died may come back and every birth is someone coming back.

2. That is why we don’t have family names; we use the names of the people who are reincarnated. The same names are use over and over.

3. The means of determining the person who is being reincarnated are usually dreams and visions by family members during the pregnancy.

4. When the dreams or visions do not show clearly the right identity of the one being reincarnated, people consult diviners.

Kasongo Munza; A Letter to Africa About Africa; page 10C.

This belief has a profound influence on a person's understanding of who he or she is. They are not themselves. They are raised with the assumption that they are another.

I have heard Africans say after hearing Kasongo teach, "Now I know I am not my . . . (grandfather, mother, uncle)."

This drama was one selected by the drama group to be included with six other in the play that was performed in Lubumbashi in churches. They felt it was a very important one to communicate.

I have it in French for your listening pleasure.