Special Report Transcript Episode 70, Section 3, Time 50:19

Intelezi go far beyond Shaka, because Intelezi is connected with the Nile valley civilization. As you know that all the Africans originated from the Nile valley and that is where, of course, civilization started. Therefore, Africans are culturally united, that has been established, in a book by … the black African cultural unity, he says that. The book was established as early as 1987. Therefore Intelezi is associated with this because civilization started here, medicine started in the Nile valley. [Inaudible] was the father of medicine and therefore the idea of medicine also started in Africa. The calendar, art of writing, philosophy and what have you, all of it started in Africa. Therefore, when we speak about Intelezi we must know that we are not talking about something which started in KwaZulu or in Lesotho or in Swaziland; it’s just an African thing. We could cure ourselves of any type of element, but at the same time also, coming to Intelezi now, Intelezi would be grown in any home. It’s what the white people call ‘flowers,’ but we African call that Intelezi. You may find an ordinary flower when you are entering a traditional home, but it is not a traditional flower, it is Intelezi. It is there to prevent either Tokoloshe, [evil sprite] either Sinzeni, all the evil spirits harming the inhabitants of that particular home. That is Intelezi which is visible. But the second Intelezi is the one which is used by all warriors, all regiments; all traditional soldiers when going to war. They will first consult inyanga, or traditional doctor. This traditional doctor would now prepare this medicine which we call Intelezi. Some of it will be sprinkled on all of them and another one may be drunk by this people and induce vomiting and another one of course may be smeared on them. And then when now they sing and … before war and then they are ready. And it is believed that it will make them invisible when confronting an enemy. They will never go to a war having not conducted inyanga who will prepare them accordingly.

Notes: Jabulani Maphalala

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