Dreams

Dreams are one of the many ways communication occurs between humans and spirits, so many Africans look to dreams for guidance in everyday affairs. Direct appearances of ancestors in dreams reflect their power and wisdom. Those with ancestors of less wisdom or spiritual power receive guidance in more general symbolic dreams. There are individuals who specialize in interpreting such dreams, although they may not hold formal titles or be a priest or priestess. Much information on dreams exists as part of the rich oral tradition of Africa, but in parts of Muslim Africa, there are written sources on dreams.

Dreams are not just experienced by humans; deities dream as well. In the creation story of the San, the deity Kaggen dreams, and what is dreamt appears as creation. Among the Shona of Zimbabwe, the first human, Musikavanhu, dreams about birds and animals; when he awakens, they are reality.

In ancient Egypt, dreams were held to communicate the will of the gods and clues to future events. The Chester Beatty Papyrus III, dating to 1300 BC or perhaps even earlier, describes several dreams and their interpretations. In addition, a scene on the stelae in front of the Great Sphinx depict king Thutmose IV, who reigned from 1400–1390 BC, having a dream that legitimized his claim to the throne as does another stelae erected at the Temple to Amen at Napata by Kushite pharaoh Tanutamani who reigned from 664–656. Beginning in 747 BC, individuals would sleep in temples so information would be revealed to them in dreams, which would then be interpreted by priests of the temple.

The Batonga of Zambia also consider dreams important and place emphasis on shifts of feeling, space, and time within the dream and opposites. To dream something pleasant and then a friend interrupts, but then goes away, and the dream continues indicates that the “friend” in the dream means to cheat you in some way. A pleasant dream with no change in feeling indicates misfortune. To dream inside of a dream is considered a teaching dream and is rare. It means information will be revealed that must be kept secret. Meanings given to common dream symbols include snakes as ancestral spirits, the color red as death, white as lucky, and the moon meaning the dream will come true and relates to money. Interestingly, among the ancient Egyptians, a dream about drinking warm beer was an omen that the person would undergo something bad. Among the Batonga, to dream of drinking beer is symbolic of witchcraft.

Not all cultures have elaborate dealings with dreams, but still regard them with importance. Among the Akamba, dreams are divided into two categories: good and bad. If the dream is bad, a smoldering ember is placed in a small half gourd filled with water that is accompanied by a prayer to not let the dream manifest. If the dream is good, the half gourd is filled with milk and water and accompanied by a request to the ancestors to send the good things in the dream as the liquid is poured on the ground.

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