Thousands of spectators at the 5th Kanilai International Cultural Festival were over the past few days treated to various mystical demonstrations by foreign cultural troupes, notably the ones from Sierra Leone and Mali.

The demonstrations are serving as an eye opener to the people about the might of God who endowed his servants with knowledge to implement positive things through mystical power demonstrations. Among the notable mystical displays was the  slaughtering and resurrecting of human beings, notably by the Sierra Leonean cultural troupe.

Friday's amazing performance
An interesting and perhaps the most awesome part of the series of mystical power displays by the Sierra Leonean Kamajo troupe took place on Friday night when a human being was buried alive in a deep grave, and then made to appear from somewhere outside the grave.

The mystical act was demonstrated by Assan Jallow, who started with prayers to the Almighty God, seeking his blessings and permission to carry out the demonstration for all those present to see. That action was preceded by the tying and wrapping of the young boy identified as Sidiq Camara [nephew of Assan Jallow] who was dressed in red, put in a grave and covered with sand before the grave was set ablaze. After some minutes, the grave was opened for people to see, notably the judges of the festival, but to their surprise, the buried Sidiq was no longer inside the grave.

At that juncture, many had mixed feelings about the outcome of the demonstration, but the confident Assan Jallow started asking God for the return of the boy through recitation of numerous verses in the Holy Q’uran. Apparently, after calling the young boy three times, he [Sidiq] appeared from the northerly direction of the festival grounds dressed in a three-quarter  millitary camouflage and a black shirt walking majestically towards the pavilion where the president and other dignitaries were seated.

The mystical demonstration showed to the spectators the might of God who endowed his servants with such abilities. It also manifested the super knowledge of Africans in mystical power demonstrations, and reminded all those present of the fact that every living being will eventually turn to dust and thereafter resurrected by the Almighty Allah on the Day of Judgment.

During a chat with Daily Observer early Saturday morning, Assan Jallow expatiated on the differences between magic and mystic. "Magic is something arraigned by some people and dedicated to another people. But mystic only deals with a single person -that is from the Almighty Allah to the person implementing it," he said.
 
The Friday mystical demonstration, according to Jallow, was meant to remind the people that all human beings will be buried after the end of their lives to return to dust, and will again be resurrected by only Almighty Allah after many centuries. He pointed out that the Almighty Allah is the only one who has the power to wake somebody from the grave. “I only feel like that he [God] give me this idea to bring to people, advise them and make it as a concert demonstration to them because seeing is believing,” he added.

Malian demonstrations
Meanwhile, the Malian cultural troupes had earlier on during the past week displayed their mystical powers at the festival. Like their Sierra Leonean counterparts, the Malians showcased different mystical arts, such as producing different types of snakes on the spot, doves, dancing on pieces of broken bottles, as well as the chewing of nail, among others.

Kemoko Dumbuya, leader of the Malian hunters, had, in an earlier interview with the Daily Observer explained that their various demonstrations are part of their undiminished rich cultural heritage in Mali. Both Dumbuya and the Sierra Leonean, Assan Jallow used the opportunity to laud the initiative of the Kanilai International Cultural Festival, something they said has not only created a platform for showcasing cultural diversity but also promote peace, unity, integration and cultural understanding. They also commended President Jammeh for the new developments in the festival such as the expansion of the event to cater for people from other continents such as Asia, America and Latin America.