Pathisa Nyathi's final journey: Exploring African science and witchcraft

In a chilly July mid-morning last year, Pathisa Nyathi, a renowned African cultural historian and prolific author, walked into the Sunday News newsroom, carrying with him three new books. These works marked the continuation of his lifelong dedication to documenting and exploring African cultural practices. At 72, Nyathi had just released Journey to the Stars, a book delving into African astronomy, African Body Art, and Mhande, the sixth edition of his series on Zimbabwean cultural dances.

As he celebrated his 72nd birthday, Nyathi was eager to share the news of his latest milestone. He had always hoped to reach a target of publishing as many books as his age, a goal he fell just short of by one book. "Next year, I will achieve that target," he remarked, but for Nyathi, the number of books was never the final measure of his work. Instead, it was the content—the culmination of his research—that truly mattered.

Among his vast body of work, Nyathi always felt there was one book that would crown his career—a work he had been building toward throughout his life. This book, focused on witchcraft, or what he referred to as African science, was to be his "retirement gift" to the world. Nyathi had always been fascinated by the subject of African spirituality, which, unlike its Western counterpart, is often marginalized and demonized in post-colonial Africa.

"This is now the beginning of the end of a very long journey," Nyathi said during the interview. "What will cap it all, in my view, will be what I term ancient African philosophy. That will be the icing on the cake." He explained that witchcraft and traditional medicine, often misunderstood, were rooted in a science that deserved to be explored with the same respect as any other field of study. For Nyathi, it was not about romanticizing these practices but understanding their principles through a scientific lens.

Nyathi's decision to delve into this controversial area of African culture came with a sense of purpose. "This is the science from which witches and traditional doctors alike like to tap into. It's the same thing, the same science," he explained. "It's not about the negative stereotypes. It's about understanding the science behind it."

He pointed out the paradox in how supernatural practices are viewed in Africa versus the West. In Africa, traditional healers and witches are often ostracized, but in Western cultures, similar themes are frequently romanticized in movies and media. For Nyathi, this was an area where he could merge his scientific background with his cultural exploration, posing questions about energy, physics, and the unexplained.

"What is of interest to me is the question why?" Nyathi explained. "I'm not concerned about the what and when. I have a science background because I was once a secondary school science teacher so I understand certain principles. If there are people who fly, surely they're making use of energy. We need transport, and fossil fuels are finite. We need to learn from ancient African science about how they're making use of energy to fly."

Nyathi's quest was not to validate witchcraft or traditional healing but to explore the African knowledge systems that have been overlooked or misunderstood. His goal was to shed light on this ancient science and show that it has valuable insights for contemporary life.

Unfortunately, just as Nyathi was beginning to share his thoughts on African spirituality in a series of articles earlier this year, his health began to decline. Hospitalized after months of unwellness, it remains uncertain whether he completed his long-anticipated book on African science. Nevertheless, even in his final days, Nyathi's passion for knowledge never wavered.

"I am grateful for good health thus far in life because you cannot write if you're not healthy," Nyathi had remarked in the interview. His words reflect a man who, despite his age and health struggles, remained driven by a thirst for knowledge—particularly knowledge with an African flavor.

His exploration of African science, including the study of witchcraft and traditional healing, was, in his view, the final frontier of his intellectual journey. "There are people who know something that we don't know, something we don't understand," he mused. "These are people who tapped into a certain energy that we are not able to tap into."

Pathisa Nyathi leaves behind a rich legacy of scholarly work, exploring the depths of African culture and spirituality. As his life's journey neared its end, his final mission was clear: to share with the world a deeper understanding of African science, the wisdom of our ancestors, and the mysteries that continue to inspire.