Heart and Soul: Musambwa - Lake Victoria's sacred island

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• 00:08

  What you're hearing is an offering ceremony from a fisherman by the shores of Lake Victoria.

• 00:15

  In the Baganda oral tradition, the lake was formed by the tears of the god Katonda,

• 00:21

  who wept for the world as he created it.

• 00:24

  These tears turned... into water, giving rise to Lake Victoria.

• 00:32

  He kneels down in prayer,

• 00:34

  invoking the protection and blessings of the deities believed to govern the waters,

• 00:40

  led by the head demigod, Jajam Kasa.

• 00:44

  He expresses gratitude for the bounties received and seeks favor for future catches.

• 00:50

  After the prayers,

• 00:52

  The offerings are left on the altar and the fishermen retreat to watch the next part of the ritual unfold.

• 01:01

  Snakes, regarded as sacred creatures, come forth from the shadows to feed on the eggs offered.

• 01:09

  This phenomenon is seen as a sign of the gods' acceptance of their offerings and a manifestation of divine presence.

• 01:21

  Welcome to the documentary from the BBC World Service with me, Zawadim Dibo,

• 01:27

  for this episode of Heart and Soul,

• 01:29

  exploring personal approaches to spirituality from around the world.

• 01:35

  I'm coming to you from the heart of Lake Victoria in the Rakai district of southwestern Uganda on the island of Musambwa.

• 01:44

  The word Musambwa, which means spirit in Luganda,

• 01:47

  refers to a place of extraordinary natural wonders.

• 01:55

  We live with the snakes here peacefully.

• 01:58

  They do not bite us and we do not beat them.

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