Babu wa Loliondo

Babu wa Loliondo (civil Ambilikile Mwasapile ) is a retired pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran. Church of Tanzania ( ELCT ) which temporarily causes a stir in Tanzania in Loliondo (near the Ngorongoro crater ) by serving a drink made from tree bark with healing properties .

Live and act

The 76-year-old Masapila comes from Mbeya and was a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church . Church of Tanzania. A few years ago he dreamed that God had told him to go to Loliondo and make tea from parts of a certain tree and give it to a sick person who was passing by. Since March 2011 , thousands of people, some from all over the world, have been making a pilgrimage to Babu to get a cup of healing water.

place

Loliondo lies west of Lake Natron and north of Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti on the Kenyan border in the middle of the steppe. The place is far away from the next larger city and can hardly be reached.

Reports of healings

Numerous Tanzanians report healings from people they know who suffered from chronic diseases such as high blood pressure , cancer , tuberculosis and also HIV . All reports tell of the pastor's special charisma, which also fills the non-sick.

The "miracle potion"

The tea is made from parts of plants from the Carissa Spinarum or Carissa Edulis . In the past, a highly effective poison for hunting and combat arrows was obtained from this plant. The excessive demand for firewood leads to a critical supply situation for the population. The potion is sold to the needy for 500 TSh per cup. These are divided into TSh 200 to those who make the tea, TSh 200 to the church and TSh 100 for the pastor himself. Children only drink half a cup.

Scientific investigations

In March 2011 the Tanzanian Ministry of Health and Social Affairs commissioned a study to examine the effectiveness of the drink. This study confirmed that the dose administered was not dangerous. An anti-inflammatory, as well as blood pressure lowering and diabetes- relieving effect could be proven to the active substance. Concerning. HIV / AIDS could only be stipulated that concomitant diseases would be alleviated.

Hopes for further research

The partial results of the investigations raised hopes for a breakthrough in new HIV drugs . As a result, some substances in the plant are compatible with antiviral drugs and are partly fat-soluble so that they can cross the blood-brain barrier .

Effects of the healing reports

Reports of alleged successful healings led to a pilgrimage of over 50,000 people. On the way to Loliondo, the roads were partially broken up and no longer passable. Numerous pilgrims died on the trip and the sanitary conditions were catastrophic. The government imposed a toll for the access roads and issued a limit on vehicles. The ELCT plans to build sanitary facilities as well as guest houses and a cathedral.

Attitude of the Tanzanian Church

Numerous church representatives also took the opportunity to drink the tea. They said they were pleased with the human and media impact of their pastor. The Tanzanian Church reacted with rejection of an announced ban on Mwasapile. Thomas Laiser, Bishop of the ELCT North Central Diocese, feared chaos and advised the government not to stop the distribution of the drug. Instead, two waiting rooms for 600 to 700 people as well as toilets and rubbish spots were to be built at Mwasapile's house. Regarding the testing of the drug, Laiser said, "What heals is not the drug, but faith and prayer."

Criticism of the western world

Western theologians and scientists express massive doubts and concerns about the activity of the miracle healer. In addition to a distortion of the theological question, the focus is primarily on humanitarian concerns. The potential impact on drug treatment for AIDS is being watched with concern, as Mwasapile encourages HIV-infected people to stop taking medication once they have drunk the 'cup of life'. There are also fears of a decline in caution with regard to the use of condoms . In addition, the ecological and economic consequences of the mass movement in the undeveloped area are classified as critical.

Trivia

Based on the premise that each drink only one cup needed in church circles is Tanzania's the joke told that the kiswahilische abbreviation of ELCT K anisa la K iinjili la K ilutheri T anzania KKKT would be rezoned. Instead, it would now stand for k unywa k ikombe k imoja t u (Kiswahili for 'drink just one cup').

Web links

• Documentation from NTV Kenya ( Memento from March 25, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
• To a faith healer in the area of ​​the district capital Loliondo . tansania-information.de. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
• State Department of Health and Welfare Investigation Report. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
• Ministry of Health and Social Affairs

Individual evidence

1. ↑ News Alert: Loliondo: 'Mother of all cures' 50,000 . jamiiforums.com. March 15, 2011. Retrieved May 11, 2011.
2. ↑ Loliondo preacher and his healing work need maximum support . Daily News. March 20, 2011. Retrieved May 11, 2011.
3. ↑ Lusugga Kironde: Having to 'content' with trekking to get firewood at Loliondo . dailynews.co.tz. March 25, 2011. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
4. ↑ Technical Report ( Memento of the original from March 5, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Website xa.yimg.com (English). Retrieved February 26, 2012. 
5. ↑ ^{a b} To a faith healer in the area of ​​the district capital Loliondo . tansania-information.de. Retrieved May 12, 2011.