GREAT SPIRIT LION OF KURAMONGO VILLAGE

From Kuramongo village, deep in the heart of Africa, comes the most enlightening and startling tale ever told about the Great Spirit Lion. In 1921 a team of anthropologists set out to interview the village elders of Kuramongo to learn more about a story that had made headlines around the world – the reported appearance of the Great Spirit Lion in front of dozens of villagers and several Christian missionaries. The anthropologists of course anticipated they would discover a story told by superstitious natives and frightened or confused missionaries. They didn’t doubt from the stories they read that something had happened – but certainly not the appearance of the Great Spirit Lion! Little did they know when they began their journey that their findings would shake their personal belief systems and that of many others around the world.

Tales about the Great Spirit Lion have swirled around the African continent for many centuries. Archaeologists even found references to it among the hieroglyphics of ancient Egypt – almost always accompanied by an image of a silver-maned lion. Among the African civilizations that have risen and fallen since then, among those that kept written records, the Great Spirit Lion is often mentioned. Early western visitors to the continent recorded stories about the Great Spirit Lion told to them by natives of many different tribes across Africa. Until the anthropologists visited Kuramongo village in 1921, the Great Spirit Lion was believed to be a mythical creature of fertile imaginations.

When the anthropologists arrived in Kuramongo they were greeted warmly by the village elders. After sharing a meal with their visitors a fire was lit in the village commons and the village elders, anthropologists and many of the villagers sat down around the fire. The village leader said he had been looking forward to this moment ever since he learned the anthropologists wanted to visit the village. He said he had been at first confused when he heard that their story about the appearance of the Great Spirit Lion was laughed at by Westerners - and said later he became very angry – it was so much like white men to treat them like children. However, since he understood the anthropologists were considered wise and fair-minded he was very interested in sharing the story with them. So with that said he asked the visitors what questions they had.

First the anthropologists wanted to know who saw the lion and would they be allowed to speak with witnesses. They were surprised at the response when the elders said yes, certainly, and then nearly 30 people stepped forward to be questioned - most surprising was the presence of two Western missionaries among those who volunteered to be interviewed.

In summary, the stories they heard were very consistent and, even more disturbing, believable. On the night of the incident a tribal meeting had been called to discuss a particularly violent villager who had repeatedly and savagely beat his wife and children. The elders and other villagers had intervened many times. The people of the village were determined to put an end to this terrible behavior this very night. The man was allowed to speak to defend himself but instead began by invoking the wrath of the Great Spirit Lion on all present. He asked how the elders and villagers dared interfere with his relationship with his wife and children. He was silenced by the village elders. They asked his wife and children to speak. One after the other they reported his abuse. One elder asked why the mother did not flee with her children from this monster. She said she could not because he threatened to invoke the wrath of the Great Spirit Lion upon them. She said she was taught from childhood that the Great Spirit Lion could be summoned to punish wives and children who were not totally obedient to their husbands and fathers. (The elders acknowledged to the anthropologists that this was a commonly held belief in their village and villages across Africa.)

As she finished speaking there was a violent gust of wind and dust sprang up almost quenching the flames of the fire. Then, just as suddenly, all was quite - except for a rapid padding sound coming toward the fire. Then, a blur, and the abuser was on the ground beneath the foot of a huge silver-maned lion. Then all present heard what they thought was someone speaking - but no, they were hearing it in their minds. They soon realized the lion was speaking to them. He said, “I am the one you call the Great Spirit Lion. I am a protector of the weak and abused – I am not a punisher. Men like this one for centuries have wrongly invoked my name to control others. That ends here. Know now by my appearance and actions before you tonight that I am real and will protect anyone being abused who calls out for my protection.” He then reached down and violently bit the struggling and screaming abuser in the neck as he lifted him up, and as the man screamed his last dying breath the lion turned, and in a silver blur was gone.

The shaken anthropologists faithfully reported the details of their investigation. The story was widely met by many with a mixture of awe and joy - and of course by some with total disbelief. Reports of the Great Spirit Lion suddenly appearing out of nowhere to protect the abused have grown exponentially since then. There is little doubt, at least among the villagers of Kuramongo, that the Great Spirit Lion is very real and constantly watching over them and their village. And most importantly, The Story of the Great Spirit Lion of Kuramongo should give pause to anyone who would harm the weak and defenseless.