Signs from nature and African beliefs on the passing of a leader

Wisdom flowed through generations in my home, shaping my understanding of the world in profound ways. With my parents caring for our two great-grandmothers and two grandmothers on four different occasions, I had the rare privilege of absorbing their stories, tales filled with mystery, tradition and an unshakable connection to the unseen. One of them would wake up with an unexplained pain in her back, a silent omen that a family member, a relative, or someone of great significance was nearing their final journey.I have experienced these signs myself. Just last year, on the day before the devastating news of our sitting President, Dr Hage Geingob’s passing, I woke up with a funeral song playing persistently in my mind (earworm). It stayed with me the entire day, though I had no understanding of its meaning at the time. Only when the news broke did its eerie significance become clear. These signs appear in many ways, reaching different people in ways only the universe can explain.One of the lessons I learned from my matriarchs is that the passing of a great leader is never an ordinary moment, and the same is reflected in many African cultures. Such transitions are often accompanied by unusual occurrences in nature, seen by many as signs of a great spirit departing. In Namibia, this belief has been reaffirmed time and again, as nature itself seems to acknowledge the departure of revered figures. These are not mere coincidences but whispers from the ancestors, affirming that a great leader has crossed into the realm beyond.As the founding president and Father of the Namibian Nation, Dr Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma, faces his final moments, remarkable events have unfolded. A lion was recently spotted roaming outside Etosha National Park, and unusually good rains have graced our land this month. Such occurrences mirror past events when other prominent figures departed.When the late King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas of the Ondonga community passed away in 2019, a rhino was seen wandering near villages around Ondangwa. For many, this was nature’s way of announcing his farewell. Across Africa, similar stories exist. Some communities report birds circling in strange formations, wild animals entering villages, or sudden changes in weather when a great leader transitions. These beliefs, passed down through generations, remind us that life and nature are interconnected in ways beyond human understanding.Of course, some dismiss such occurrences as mere coincidence, arguing that science does not support supernatural beliefs. Yet, even without scientific explanations, these signs continue to manifest, reinforcing the spiritual bonds that many Africans hold dear. Whether one believes in superstition or not, the patterns are difficult to ignore.As Namibia prepares to bid farewell to its beloved Founding Father, we cannot overlook the messages that nature seems to be sending. The lion that left the park and the abundant rains may not be random events but rather a final salute of a nation’s beloved leader. His legacy will endure, not only in history books but in the very fabric of our land, where nature itself seems to mourn the departure of its great son.*Tonateni Shidhudhu is a communications specialist, former journalist and self-taught historian. He writes in his personal capacity.

Signs from nature and African beliefs on the passing of a leader

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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Signs from nature and African beliefs on the passing of a leader

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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