Nommo

In West Africa, the Dogon people of Mali believe that the African concept of Nommo, the power of the spoken word, carries a life force that produces all life and influences everything. By human utterance or through the spoken word, human beings can invoke a kind of spiritual power. Nommo is a force that gives life to every thing. It is present everywhere and it causes everything. Furthermore, humans have power over the word and direct the life force. Thus all of human creation and natural phenomena emanate from the productive power of the word—Nommo, which is itself a life force. For the Dogon, all magic is ultimately word magic whether the word is manifested in incantations, blessings, or curses. In fact, if the word did not exist, all forces would be suspended, there would be no procreation, and therefore no life. For the ancient Egyptians, Nommo, or the power of the spoken word, was linked to their ethical principle, Maat (meaning “truth, harmony, balance, reciprocity”). Maat provided the ancient Egyptians with a value system to live by. The ancient Egyptians believed that the nature of Maat was expressed by the living person, indeed, [Page 380]its essential quality related to the life sustaining power of speech itself. The Dogon's conception of the word and its life sustaining power is no different from that of the ancient Egyptians.

The power of the word is different from one individual to the next. The word power of the creator is more powerful than that of any other being. In African philosophy, individuals have, by the power of their words, dominion over things, which they can command and change and make work for their purposes. The Dogon believe that to command things with words is to practice magic. The power of the speaker will determine how fascinated the audience will be. Nommo is derived not only from the spiritual nature of words but also from the spirituality of the presentation. However, morality is the prime consideration for African oratory or public discourse. The power of words, Nommo, is in proportion to the moral character of the speaker as well as the oratorical skill he or she possesses. It is imperative for the speaker to guide his or her creativity in the direction of a higher level of consciousness.

Ultimately, cosmic harmony is the objective of human utterance within the African worldview. The attainment of harmony is the aim of all participants when the community is called together for a common cause. Nommo, through the spoken word, is a powerful instrument that is evident in numerous ways. It addresses profound life circumstances. Furthermore, the spoken word creates human relationships that bring about social transformations. The word, in an African sense, is the sacred force of life and creates reality for African people. The preeminence of Nommo is a defining cultural characteristic of African people.

The contemporary African preacher in the Black Church is an ideal example of the power of Nommo. The nature of African communication can best be appreciated by understanding that Nommo flows through the African's existence in the United States. Most Africans, given the nature of American history of slavery and the subsequent racism and oppression, can immediately recognize the transforming power of vocal expression. It is clear when someone says, “Man, that cat can rap,” and also when someone leaving a Baptist church says, “I didn't understand all those words the preacher was using, but they sure sounded good.” Although Africans revere the spoken word, there is an extensive literary tradition in Africa. However, the written word is, to a large degree, without life. It creates distance between the writer and the reader, who may never have a chance to interact or build a human relationship. This relationship is imperative wherever Nommo exists.

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