The founder of The Revelation Spiritual Home has received a prestigious award. His disciples wowed Italian audiences with their performances.
Written by Massimo Introvigne
A peaceful invasion of African music and color has taken the Italian city of Turin by surprise, but when it comes time for the annual International Book Fair (Salone Internazionale del Libro), few are astonished by the unusual sight. there is no. The Turin Book Fair is his second largest in Europe, and in the 2024 edition he set a record with more than 222,000 visitors.
But the presence on May 11th of Dr. Samuel Radebe of Imboni, founder and leader of The Liberation Spiritual Home in South Africa, and his delegation was truly new for the book fair. did. This was also a novelty for what the citizens of Turin call “Offair.” This cannot be held within the book exhibition area (unless singing and dancing is not possible due to legal or insurance reasons), but is held in a separate location by a group that also takes part in the official program of the book fair. There are many events.
The latter, a program unique to the International Book Fair, included the awarding of two spirituality-related awards (a tradition that began in 2019): the Global Spirituality Award and the Global Peace Award. The winners were selected by a jury of religious people and academics, supervised by the interreligious committee Fedinzim (Faith Together). The World Peace Prize is given to a spiritual leader who has promoted peace education around the world, and is given to Hong Hong, Grand Master of Tai Chi, a Taiwan-based qigong, martial arts, and self-cultivation organization. Presented to Dr. Tao Tse. male. The Global Spirituality Award was presented to Dr. Radebe. Both awards were presented by his lawyer Francesco Curto, president of Fedinsieme.
The Global Spiritual Award was designed to stylize the flame, a symbol of holiness and immortality in many traditions, including African. The reconstruction of African mythology by European literature popularized the story of an eternal flame that granted immortality to the rulers of a mysterious and hidden African kingdom.
As I explained in my “Laudatio” (Latin for “praise” and the speech usually pronounced when awards are given), Dr. Radebe is known to his followers as IMboni uZwi-Lezwe Radebe. IMboni, as it is commonly known, is a word used in several African languages to refer to a high-level spiritual guide. The jury recognized him for his unique and successful work in reviving and promoting the indigenous spirituality of Africa, the pre-Christian and pre-Islamic spirituality of the African people, which is also a treasure to humanity as a whole. was selected for the award.
From humble beginnings, The Revelation Spiritual Home has become a pan-African movement with more than 70 chapters across Africa, as well as presence in Ireland and the United States. It was also mentioned that Imboni empowers his followers by involving them in many economic activities with the ultimate aim of teaching them how to start their own small businesses and become financially independent. I did.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Radebe said the award celebrates something that Africans themselves have forgotten and even despised for centuries: the importance of their own spirituality and their teachers. Ta. He accepted the award as a tribute to his predecessors who were instrumental in reviving authentic African spirituality.
“I accept this award and am deeply grateful,” he said. “In the name of my spiritual predecessors, people like Nongkause, who has been ridiculed, worthless, and treated with contempt by her people because of the spiritual gifts she possessed. Mr. Simon Kimbangu was acquitted, imprisoned, and humiliated for defending the spirituality of the African people.Ntsikana bravely faced adversity and delivered a spiritual message from the spirit world to the people. The Great Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa was often met with ill-will and violent reactions. Its message of spiritual revival was defined by crazy stories and petty crimes that sought to threaten the envisioned Rainbow Nation. All these spiritual heroes and heroines worked to the death to improve the spiritual condition of the people of Africa, and today I honor and remember them through this award.”
Imboni concluded by praising the historical significance of this award: You will never fully understand what this means from a spiritual perspective. You have accomplished what Africa has not been able to accomplish. You have given dignity and recognition to a very important sector of the whole world. I will be forever grateful for that. ”
In the afternoon, dancers and singers from The Revelation Spiritual Home will perform at Terrazza Solfe, the venue for events included in the tourist itinerary for those who wish to admire the beauty of Turin’s contribution to the arts. Surprised and delighted the audience at an interfaith concert in Reno. Nouveau style (called “Liberty style” in Italian). In Turin, South African performers evoked the beauty of Spirit King, a theatrical musical piece about Imboni’s life and spirituality that premiered in South Africa this year.
In the evening, Dr. Radebe participated in a roundtable on religious freedom under the auspices of the Italian branch of the International Religious Freedom Roundtable, where various groups presented on issues of freedom of religion and belief.
Imboni recalled that he was initially persecuted and ridiculed for being true to his mission. For this reason, he has become sensitive to other people’s religious freedom issues, such as the issue of the Family Federation/Unification Church in Japan and the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), and even Maria Gabriela Mieli’s presentation at the round table. discussed. UPF.
Last December, in this spirit, Dr. Radebe was appointed Africa Coordinator of the newly established African Forum for Religious and Spiritual Freedom (AFRSL) in collaboration with FOREF (Religious Freedom Forum – Europe). did.
