Mama Onema
Mama Onema | |
|---|---|
| Marie Onema Todinga | |
| Born | c. 1900 |
| Died | 27 August 1967 |
| Nationality | Congolese |
| Occupation(s) | Fetishist, traditional priestess |
| Known for | Mystical role in the Simba rebellion |
Mama Onema, born Marie Onema Todinga, (c. 1900 – August 27, 1967) was a renowned traditional priestess and fetish practitioner in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She gained prominence for her mystical role during the Simba Rebellion in 1964, where she was believed to provide spiritual protection and invulnerability to rebel fighters through rituals and amulets. She was captured by the Congolese National Army in 1965 and died under disputed circumstances in Kinshasa in 1967.[1]
Early life
[edit]Little is known about Mama Onema's early years. She was reportedly born around 1900 among the Teke people in what is now Maniema province. She spoke only her native Tétéla language and remained disconnected from politics until the early 1960s.[2]
Role in the Simba Rebellion
[edit]During the height of the Simba Rebellion in 1964, Mama Onema was enlisted by General Nicolas Olenga, one of the rebellion's key commanders, to provide spiritual and mystical support to the fighters. Based in Kindu, she conducted ceremonies believed to grant invulnerability to gunfire. She administered ritual beverages known as pombe, applied magical symbols to fighters’ foreheads, and distributed amulets called dawa.[1]
These amulets were reportedly crafted using various ingredients, including parts of defeated enemies. Fighters purchased these protective talismans at prices ranging from 50 to 5,000 Congolese francs depending on their rank. The rebels believed that by strictly adhering to taboos—such as abstaining from sex, avoiding fleeing from battle, and refraining from certain foods—they would become invincible in combat.[1]
A 1964 newsreel filmed in Kindu by British Pathé shows Mama Onema in full ritual: dressed in red cloth, chanting incantations, brandishing ritual objects, and giving magical potions to kneeling militia members.[3]
Decline and capture
[edit]The belief in Mama Onema's mystical protection weakened after repeated military defeats of the Simba rebels, notably at Kindu and Stanleyville. Despite their faith, many fighters perished in combat. The New York Times reported in May 1964 that 150 Simba insurgents died after refusing to take cover, believing their amulets rendered them bulletproof.[4]
On January 25, 1965, Mama Onema was captured near Kibombo by government forces and transferred to Leopoldville. Under interrogation and public scrutiny, she denounced her previous beliefs and urged Simba fighters to surrender. This act was used as government propaganda to demoralize the remaining insurgents.[1]
Death and legacy
[edit]Official accounts state that Mama Onema died on August 27, 1967, at the Kintambo Hospital in Kinshasa from illness. However, some rumors persist that she was secretly executed on orders from President Mobutu Sese Seko to prevent her from passing on her mystical powers. Allegations even claim she was put to death using an electric chair, although these remain unconfirmed.[1]
Mama Onema remains a controversial and iconic figure in Congolese history, symbolizing the intersection of traditional beliefs and political upheaval. Her rituals and legend continue to be remembered through archival footage and oral histories, often compared with other Congolese spiritual leaders such as Kimpa Vita and Simon Kimbangu.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Mama Onema". Mbokamosika (in French). Retrieved 2025-07-02.
- ^ "Onema, Mama". Encyclopaedia Africana. Retrieved 2025-07-02.
- ^ a b "Simba Fetish Ritual – 1964". British Pathé. Retrieved 2025-07-02.
- ^ "Rebels in Congo disdain bullets: 150 die as incantation fails". The New York Times. May 31, 1964. Retrieved 2025-07-02.
External links
[edit]- Detailed profile on Mbokamosika (in French)
- Encyclopaedia Africana entry (in English)
- The New York Times article, May 1964 (in English)
- British Pathé newsreel showing Mama Onema in ritual, 1964 (in English)
