It is clear from the myth that according to the Shona, the gona has occult powers hence can cause injury to a person or property or do psychologi- cal harm. A large part of the traditional healer’s practice therefore in- volves prescribing remedies and preventive charms. Some of these charms (gonas) confer immunity against specific types of illness or pro- tect individuals against misfortunes that could be caused by gonas. Other charms confer positive benefits such as strength and other desirable qualities.12 Alexandre Junod who recorded in detail the social and reli- gious life of the Tsonga referred to gourds in connection with protection in battle/war. All the vessels (gonas) are considered to belong to the ancestors (or to the spiritual world)-an ownership that adds potency to the medicines stored in them.13 The vessels therefore ‘held’ the spirits of various ancestors and served as vehicles through which the ancestral spirits were contacted, that is, they functioned as repositories for ances- tral spirits rather than as medicine containers.14
Traditionally each Shona family had a gona which would be passed from one generation to the other hence the claim that the gona belonged to the ancestors. It could be associated with family trade such as hunting, farming, dance etc. There are some gonas that were for prevention against any harm.15 There are families, who have mysterious powers owing to these gona/charms or fetishes. For instance, individuals be- longing to such families may not be bitten by snakes. When a snake sees the person with such charms it becomes weak until he/she passes. Some families may not be be-witched. When a witch tries to harm any member of the family, the witch may become unconscious until the next day. During tribal wars the gona was used to weaken the opponents in battle. In some cases the opponents may begin to fight among themselves. As a
11 KAHARI, The Rise of the Shona Novel, 139. 12 CHAVUNDUKA, Witchcraft, 119-139. 13 BECKER, African Art.
14 BECKER, African Art.
result of the gona, there are some families who excel in farming even when all others fail.
The efficacy of the gona depended on observing various rules (miko) governing the use and keeping the gona. Violation of such rules had serious consequences and sometimes would result in death. Rules de- pended on the type and purpose of gona one or a family possessed (dan- gerous or good). It could require the beholder to practice incest, not to eat or to eat some herbs every day, not to visit funerals or celebrations etc. Some of the gonas need the bearer to practice human sacrifice, while other gonas may demand a wife or husband from among the owner’s children or relatives. Some gonas are kept away from home in places such as caves, huge trees, river banks etc. Those that are kept at home could be kept under pillow. As such no witch can come near the bearer when the gona is under the pillow. Some of the gonas are kept under the floor, in the ceiling of the roof, in clothes, in bags etc. Where ever the gona is placed, nothing harmful may occur to the bearer. It protected the bearer as long as he/she kept the rules.
As I have alluded to above the Shona understand that some gonas were dangerous for the society. gona rehuroyi (witchcraft), zvitsinga (sorcery), mubobobo (mysteriously sleeping with someone’s wife without her or the husband knowing) were considered dangerous for the wellbeing of the society hence the need to protect one self, family or tribe from such charms by acquiring a more powerful gona.16 During the liberation struggle for instance witchcraft was regarded as counterproductive in the prosecution of the war. If one was caught with a gona it would be burnt in fire. Several stories of them (the gonas) not getting burnt in the midst of fire or them talking are common. Since each family aspired to have protection from the evil gona, they would acquire from the traditional diviners. What would normally happen is they could get what they were not prepared for. Some individuals and families acquired gona hoping to enhance themselves, for example, in farming but the traditional healer would give them rehuroyi (for witchcraft), or all the vices that the society detested. In such cases one became a danger to the society.
In recent years, the concept of gona is popularly associated with goblins (zvikwambo). These are associated with prosperity and lucky. The bearer miraculously gets things done for him. For example, if he is a driver of a bus or long distance trucks, his/her gona can drive when he retires to
Obvious Vengeyi, The Bible equals Gona
sleep. Many stories in Zimbabwe have been reported regarding the gob- lins that have sex with women.17 This is the world view that the white missionaries relegated to myths and superstition. But it is this back- ground that African independent churches and the Pentecostal churches take seriously.