Editing Ubantu:Contents:Religion:KidiniIntro (section)

====Msafu ya Kanuni - The Book of Law====

The Msafu ya Kanuni is a list of taboos. They are heavily concerned personal cleanliness and with filial piety and obedience to the patriarchy. The regulations are somewhat outlined are different for different people: children, wives, bachelor men, husbands, elders, leaders (the term used is mwami, which can mean anyone from a village headman to a king), widows, slaves and even ancestor spirits. Uncleanliness is called "chafu". Anything can become chafu, and using or touching such things often spreads it.

The taboos of Kanuni are also lengthy and sometimes strange. Ordinary people have no chance of observing all of them, but ritual purification is readily available. The Watawa of Kidini are paid for this service, which generates the majority of the Church's income. There are many food taboos:  only ritually slaughtered animals, whose souls go to Kuzimu to feed the ancestors, may be eaten. Anyone who becomes sick or is injured in such a way as to shed blood becomes unclean, as does anyone who touches them. Any food touched by a contaminated person becomes unclean.  Women may not touch cattle, whereas there are several plants that men may not touch. Graveyards are taboo, of course. Anyone stung by a bee or bitten by a snake is unclean. Fortunately, one may be purified by merely undressing and bathing in a rainstorm. The chafu state can be transmitted by sexual contact.

A partial list:  When a child dies, his mother becomes chafu. Everyone witnessing a birth becomes chafu. Anyone touching a corpse becomes chafu. If you cut yourself performing a sacrficice, you and the sacrfice are chafu. All attendents to the circumsicion ceremonies are chafu. Killing a  man makes you chafu, this can be spread by eating with such a person. When a man dies, his sons become chafu. If a father misses his child's naming ceremony, the child is chafu. When men of the same age-grade fight, both become chafu. Eating food from a cracked pot makes you chafu. Certain sexual positions make both participants chafu. A woman who is menstruating is chafu. Striking your spouse or parent makes both parties chafu. Dropping a baby makes it chafu. Slipping and falling makes you chafu. Touching blood outside a proper sacrifice makes you chafu. If a hyeana is killed in a village or defecates in a village, all the villagers are chafu. Breaking a pot, bed or a calabash makes you chafu. Breaking a pot from rage makes the whole family chafu. Being stung by a bee or bitten by a blooddrinking insect makes you chafu. Touching any kind of fresh/wet animal feces, especially from a bird, makes you chafu. Being bitten by an animal, especially a dog, makes you chafu.

In ordinary villages, the village priest performs a free group purification each morning at sunrise - you need only a pinch of Sakwele.
 

The reality of Witchcraft adds a difficult kink to the justice system of Kanisa. Witches can cause harm without knowing, they are sometimes honest men whose unconcious anger can reach out and do damage. The idea of innocence is largely irrelevant in Bantu cultures - there is no evil, only dangers. Nevertheless, Mwavi will not detect witchcraft, and witches can also force men to commit crimes against their will.

The roots of the Msafu ya Kanuni were laid down by Kamau, a culture hero and legendary king featured in the Msafu ya Babaale and further honored in his own Cult.

mwavi - trial by poison