The Mystical Life and Times of the African Prophet: Mazinyo 'Walter' Matitta

By Mokena Stephen Semela

In life one learns that God has a particular way and means of revealing Himself and His conduct to people in a variety of ways. He has always chosen messengers to point out to people the road that leads to atonement, worship, self-denial and humility. God had also sent messengers to the Basotho people. One such messenger was the Moderator Prophet Walter Mazinyo Matitta, whose birth was mysterious, and was prophesied by a well-known Basotho prophetess, `Mantsopa, who came after the first known messenger of God in Lesotho, Mohlomi the son of Monyane. Matitta was the third and most enigmatic of these prophets. This book sets out to describe Matitta’s mysterious birth in 1885, his eventful life, method of teachings and prophesy following his ‘visit’ to heaven until his death in 1935. Matitta was a leader who, in his short life, and with all his enormous talents, proclaimed the message of hope and salvation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mokena Stephen Semela
• Release date: Oct 8, 2019
• ISBN: 9780620614849

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Times of Walter Matitta front cover.jpg

THE MYSTICAL LIFE AND TIMES OF THE AFRICAN PROPHET:

MAZINYO ‘WALTER’ MATITTA

Mokena S Semela

PREFACE

Reading the Bible and listening to stories of old people, one learns that God has a means of revealing Himself and His conduct to people in a variety of ways. He has always chosen messengers to point out to people the road that leads to atonement and forgiveness of sins, worship, self-denial and humility. God also seems to have sent messengers to the Basotho people. The first known messenger of God in Lesotho was Mohlomi, the son of Monyane. After him, there was a well-known prophetess, `Mantsopa, who, according to informants, prophesied the birth and life of the third and most enigmatic of these prophets, the Moderator Prophet ‘Walter’ Mazinyo Matitta. It is about this striking prophet that this book is written.

Informants claim that Matitta’s life seems to have been a fulfilment of what `Mantsopa had prophesied. They recalled that Matitta was born with fully developed teeth. He ‘died’ at Fobane and rose to life on the third day, after he had been baptized in heaven. They also added that it was in heaven that Matitta was given the name Walter. Interestingly, they further claimed that it was also in heaven that Matitta learnt how to read and write in different languages. Prior to his mysterious ‘death’, Matitta could neither read nor write, as he had never received formal education.

What is important about this book is that it sets out to describe Matitta’s work, particularly in the Free State, from the time he came back from heaven until his death in 1935. It also relies on hymns that Matitta’s followers sing. These hymns highlight the events, which surround Matitta’s birth, life, teachings, and prophesy. They also emphasise the events that occurred in the Free State, as well as in Lesotho as dealt with in the late Reverend Raymond Molupe Mohono’s book: Lenqosa la Modimo: Walter Matitta. This book provides interesting reading, and is used as a source of reference here.

10 April is Matitta’s commemoration day. It is said that there was a sequence of events that unfolded on this day sometime ago. These events are usually told on "sehopotso sa letsatsi la Moprofeta Walter Matitta" (Prophet Walter Matitta commemoration day). Significantly these events are also the themes of hymns that Matitta’s followers sing. For this reason, hymns feature prominently in this book.

It is perhaps important to say that as the informants, some of whom were Matitta’s disciples, reminisced, I listened conscientiously to their wonderful stories about this prophet of God. The infectious enthusiasm with which they spoke of Matitta was amazing. In this way, I resolved to note down as many of their reminiscences as possible. Special mention should be made here of the Reverends Lecheko, Mahlomola Lehata, T. Nchabeng, Maboya and Nthute Mokhachane, mme Masechaba Daemane and mme Mafokoletsa Moteka.

Special gratitude to the elders of the Church, in particular Mookamedi Moreheng Setai and the late Reverend Phillip Seetsi for tasking me to document this history and your kindness and collaboration in completing this task is highly appreciated.

Special appreciation also goes to Dr. T.K. Mopeli for showing confidence in me and recommending that I document this history.

I must add that with the help of the above elders I visited Matitta’s grave in Lesotho. On this important occasion, I had the privilege to meet many other followers who were keen to share their testimonies. Listening to these devotees’ testimonies, I felt convinced that Matitta was indeed a saint; that he had been the light that illuminated the world in the midst of chaos of ignorance.

In The Mystical Life and Times of the African Prophet: Mazinyo Walter Matitta, I attempt to record Matitta’s life from the stories of the people that I particularly had personal contact with. Therefore, in writing about these memories and experiences, I do not attempt either to interpret them, or analyse what Matitta actually stood for, what informed his calling. All that I do is to record what informants recounted about their contact with Matitta. Also it will be seen that much emphasis in this book is placed on events surrounding Matitta’s stay in Qwa-Qwa. I do not go in much detail about the internal organization of the