Dreaming the Future: African Knowledge Systems and the Power of Ancestral Technologies – A Conversation with Abba Ngwenya

Interview by Nkhensani Mkhari

In an age marked by rapid technological advancement and a relentless pursuit of progress, the ancient wisdom embedded in African knowledge systems offers a grounding perspective on the nature of consciousness, healing, and the unseen threads that connect us to the past and future. This interview with Abba Ngwenya, a revered traditional healer and scholar, delves into the profound ways African dream practices and plant technologies shape our understanding of the world. His insights challenge dominant paradigms of knowledge and invite us to reconsider the value of traditional systems as living, evolving technologies in their own right.

Throughout this conversation, Abba Ngwenya reaffirms the cyclical and fluid nature of African cosmologies, where boundaries between dreaming, waking, and ancestral realms dissolve into a continuous flow of insight and power. His reflections on the concept of "musoni" – the generative force of creation – illustrate how ancient traditions are not relics of the past, but active forces shaping contemporary African consciousness. These practices, deeply intertwined with nature and community, provide pathways to understanding that transcend the limitations of Western scientific frameworks.

The resonance of these ideas extends beyond cultural preservation. As global interest in artificial intelligence and predictive technologies grows, Abba Ngwenya’s reflections serve as a reminder that sophisticated systems of knowing have long existed within African traditions. His assertion that traditional dream technologies can shape the future rather than merely predict it presents an alternative to the West's data-driven approach to foresight.

This dialogue is not just an exploration of African spiritual and intellectual traditions; it is a call to action for younger generations. Abba Ngwenya encourages a return to the roots of indigenous knowledge by listening deeply – to the land, to dreams, to the body, and to the ancestral voices that continue to guide us. In doing so, he offers a compelling vision of healing and balance, rooted in the holistic understanding that the personal, communal, and ecological are inseparable.

We hope this interview serves as both an inspiration and a challenge to re-engage with the rich, often overlooked reservoirs of African wisdom. May it spark new inquiries, conversations, and practices that honor and carry forward the legacy of traditional knowledge in shaping our shared future.

Nkhensani Mkhari: Throughout your work, you've emphasized the cyclical nature of African knowledge systems. How do you see this relating to our contemporary understanding of dreams and consciousness?

A: The cycle never breaks - it transforms. What the West calls consciousness, we understand as part of an unbroken circle of knowing that includes dreaming, waking, ancestral wisdom, and future visions. In Kongo thought, this isn't separated into distinct states but flows like water between vessels.

Nkhensani Mkhari: You've written extensively about the concept of "musoni." How might this ancient understanding of generative power relate to contemporary African technologies of dreaming?

A: When we speak of musoni, we speak of the originating force of creation. Today's dream practices - whether through ubulawu or other sacred technologies - tap into this same originating power. The plants themselves are teachers that connect us to this musoni energy. They are not just substances but portals to this creative force.

Nkhensani Mkhari: Given the current global interest in artificial intelligence and predictive technologies, how do you view traditional African dream practices in relation to these emerging systems?

A: laughs The West is just now trying to create what we have always had. Our systems of knowing don't need massive data centers - they need relationship with land, with ancestors, with community. Your artificial intelligence tries to predict; our dream practices allow us to participate in the shaping of what's to come.

Nkhensani Mkhari: Could you speak about the role of the body in African knowledge systems, particularly in relation to dream practices?

A: In Bantu-Kongo thought, the body is not separate from knowledge - it is a site of knowing. When we work with dream plants, when we enter these altered states, the body becomes what you might call an archive. But not a dead archive like in Western thinking - a living, breathing repository of wisdom.

Nkhensani Mkhari: Your research has touched on the concept of "kidimbu" or signs. How do you see this traditional understanding of reading signs relating to contemporary dream work?

A: Signs are everywhere - in dreams, in nature, in the body. The problem isn't finding them; it's that modern education teaches people not to see them. Dream plants help reopen these pathways of seeing that were never actually closed, just ignored.

Nkhensani Mkhari: In an era of rapid technological advancement, what role do you see for traditional dream practices and plant technologies?

A: These aren't separate paths - tradition and advancement. What you call traditional dream practices are advanced technologies that have been refined over generations. The question isn't about choosing between old and new, but about understanding that what appears old to the West may be more advanced than their newest inventions.

Nkhensani Mkhari: How do you respond to Western scientific skepticism about dream knowledge and plant technologies?

A: I don't respond to it. Why should we constantly defend our knowledge systems to those who refuse to understand them? Our practices work. They have worked for generations. The proof is in the living traditions, not in laboratories.

Nkhensani Mkhari: Could you speak about the relationship between dreams and healing in African traditional practice?

A: Healing isn't just about curing illness - it's about maintaining balance in the entire system of being. Dreams show us where imbalances lie, not just in the individual but in the community, in our relationship with the land, with the ancestors. The plants help us see these connections more clearly.

Nkhensani Mkhari: What do you see as the future of African dream technologies?

A: The future is already here in what you call the past. These technologies don't need to be modernized - they need to be remembered. The plants, the dreams, the knowledge systems - they're waiting for us to remember how to listen.

Nkhensani Mkhari: Finally, what advice would you give to young Africans seeking to engage with these traditional technologies of consciousness?

A: Start by unlearning the idea that knowledge only comes in certain forms. Listen to the elders, yes, but also to the plants, to your dreams, to your body. The knowledge is already there - it's not about learning something new, but remembering what we've always known.