Magic in Mbali
I’m not sure if I’m qualified to write about magic. I’m not a musician. Not really. Sure, I’ve dabbled in playing the shekere, but it was only for entertainment. I’ve never shook the earth with my music. But I know the basic concepts of how magic is used. Fortunately, I have encountered many powerful musicians of the Masanii who could do marvelous feats with their rhythm. And I’ve conversed with them on a level that allowed me to hear some raw truths about magic. So I’ll share what was taught to me. All magic in Mbali centers around tsun. Jindh gave everything tsun. From the dirt to the stars in the sky, from the worms in the earth, to the dragon in the sea to the minds of men. If you know the right song, the right rhythm, you can communicate with and manipulate that tsun. This is more complex than it sounds. Just playing music is not enough to tap into tsun. One must discipline themself and convey their own tsun with their music. This results in draining the magic user and without discipline, their tsun can be lost or come back damaged.
The official order of magic users are called the Masanii. They have existed for thousands of years. They are like priests who are trained and disciplined to use this magic of rhythm. All Masanii are very similar, but across the kingdoms, the order of Masanii can vary in its structure and culture. I’ll explain more of those details in a separate entry on just the Masanii.
Back to the basics of magic….manipulation and communication with tsun can only be done with the proper rhythm and tone. This creates drum magic, kora magic, and the magic done by any other instrument, although most magic discovered have only been successful with drums and koras. For example, drum magic is the combination of the users tsun, the tsun of the skin of the drum, any tsun used in the drums creation, as well as the tsun being communicated to. It can be quite complex, although the most basic magic just uses the users tsun and the drum skin tsun.
I shouldn’t end this entry without describing the main types of magic. The types are just names for how the magic is used.
Funta: Funta is magic used for farming, agriculture, and working the land.
Wren: Wren is the magical defensive and offensive rhythms used in battle.
Mal: Mal is magical manipulation used for malcontent or evil ambition. It has been banned throughout Mbali for centuries. It’s use will result in extreme consequences.
There is a fourth type of magic that is more mythical than real. There are stories about it, and these stories are from a time long past. I have never seen it in action, but there are always whispers of its use, within those who follow magic circles. That type is called Sundia.
Sundia: Sundia speaks of magic that heals and prevents death and the natural physical consequences of aging. It is said that Sundia is divine magic, and it can only be used by those favored by the nation’s deity. Many griots seek to use this magic, but most never find it. Some say that it is an art that has been lost.
-Dulamah
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