Great Mysteries of Southern Africa

Children of the Sun God

Africa is mysterious. She is abundant, giving and kind. She is also cruel, evil and depraved. The origin of humankind, and the host of all kinds of horror. She holds miracles and sights as yet unseen. She is home to my soul whilst at the same time providing so much injustice that my heart bleeds. There are so many spectrums on this continent – not least of which is the rigid dichotomy between science and mysticism. In this article, I ask you to suspend that – and open your minds to the existence of a mystery which incorporates the facts and the fantastic. Africa is the keeper of many mysteries, some of which (if one believes the legends) are significant to the entire world. This is such a story.

This is a true story. A complicated story. If it is of interest to you, I highly recommend you purchase Linda Tucker’s book “Children of the Sun God, Mystery of the White Lions” which is published by Earthyear Books (see info block). I am simply touching on the surface of this enchanting subject. It is obviously impossible to relate the entire book in a column.

A white lioness.

On 10th November 1991, Linda Tucker was in the Timbavati visiting her friend Leonard – who was a game ranger. It was a time when white lions had not been spotted there for over a decade. The Machaton pride was calling, and Leonard decided on impulse to go find them, in the hopes of perhaps seeing a white cub. As they found the pride, the vehicle came to a lurching halt. It turned out that a tree trunk had done damage, and the steering column was broken. The lions were agitated and angry. One of the lionesses had just given birth, and a human interruption was not welcome. After using the spotlight a couple of times, the battery died – which meant no light and no radio. And a pride of really angry lions. 

Silently, walking slowly through the bush, appeared an old African woman, Maria Khosa, complete with baby on back, accompanied by a young girl and a wide-eyed youth. They slowly climbed onto the Land Rover. A strange calm had settled over the scene. Andries (Linda’s brother-in-law) grabbed the wide-eyed youth, saying, “Kom, laat ons waai!” (come, let’s go). Together with the youth, he walked to the camp, retrieved a functional vehicle, and returned to rescue the group. And so this somewhat disjointed story begins… Hereon in will be an account of a variety of information which is ultimately linked. And yes, the book is equally complicated…

A white lion.

Linda Tucker returned to civilization, unaware and unable to interpret what had taken place. Returning to Timbavati three years later, Linda again met up with Maria who was employed by the camp. It transpired that Maria was the “Mother of Lions”, the “Lion Queen of Timbavati”. Many moons later, when Linda was having a conversation with Credo Mutwa (the High Shaman of Africa) about Maria, and he said “Maria has guardianship in Timbavati. She should never leave that place.” Linda slowly became aware of the significance of both her encounter, and the reality of the White Lions of Timbavati.

Conservationists view white lions as a random mutation, generally of no consequence. Shamanic wisdom views the White Lions as the highest form of enlightenment-bearers or instructors. These white lions are not albinos. They are “leucistic”, meaning they have a genetic mutation that causes a partial loss of pigmentation. This results in their white fur, while retaining normal eye colour (although sometimes they have beautiful blue eyes). Albinism is a different condition where individuals lack pigmentation completely, including in their eyes. From a conservation perspective, it is important to note that white animals generally don’t last long due to their lack of camouflage. With lions this is less applicable, as they are able to survive off the kills of the pride.

The famous pyramids.

The Nilotic Meridian, or the Golden Nile Meridian, is a term referring to an energy channel or ley line that runs through Africa, specifically along the East African Rift valley. It runs around the globe, but most notably along the length of Africa(from Durban in South Africa, to Cairo in Egypt). It is described as a central energy channel, similar to the human spinal cord, that vibrates and transmits energy and impulses. The core is at 31°14’ E longitude, with legends of high energy areas within 2° on either side. North of the equator, The Nile River runs along this energy line. South of the equator, thisline runs along the alleged “River of Gold” (through many gold mining areas). Reflected in the heavens above, is the “River of Stars”, the Milky Way. 

The Sphinx.

Many famous sacred sites are situated along this meridian, including the Pyramids and Sphinx of Egypt (31.13° E), the Nile River, the Pyramids of Sudan (31.46° E), Lake Victoria in Uganda, the Great Zimbabwe Ruins (30.93° E), South Africa’s Adam’s Calendar (30.16° E) and Timbavati, where the White Lions came to Earth (31.31° E).

The Pyramids of Sudan.

It is nigh impossible to prove who built Great Zimbabwe. Various archaeologists have credited it to Phoenicians, Babylonians, and even Arabians. In fact, they stop marginally short of suggesting aliens built it! This ancient city, built between 1100 and 1450 CE near modern-day Masvingo, is now thought to have been erected by the ancestors of the Shona people. What is fascinating in Linda’s book, is that when asked about Great Zimbabwe, Credo Mutwa replied that it was built by a sophisticated seafaring civilization – whose people were the product of a true multiracial global civilisation. He also commented that “Zimba” translated as ‘lion’, and that Great Zimbabwe was actually a lion shrine. 

In the book they also refer to a great underground river that runs the length of Africa – from north Africa, under the Free State and beyond. An actual underground river that carries water. They also refer to a river of stars – which is the Milky Way. And, according to legend, it is from there that the White Lions hail. Myth, legend, fact, fiction and mystery – all mixed up in a glorious tale.

The Prime Meridian – image from Linda’s book “Children of the Sun God”.

Siegfried and Roy (Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn were German American entertainers who performed an animal-based magic show together) purchased white lions from the Johannesburg Zoo. The accounts of how they came to be at the zoo vary, but the book details that a tawny lion was sent to the zoo to recover after being shot, and he subsequently fathered a litter of pure white cubs. My hackles rose at the thought of these sacred animals being forced to perform in (effectively) a circus, but the book suggests that Siegfried and Roy had animal holding facilities second to none and were involved in a carefully curated plan to preserve the white gene whilst avoiding inbreeding. Whilst it still doesn’t sit well with me, Linda’s account of her experience of the facility indicates that these cats were really well looked after.

The original cover of the book.

In Credo’s words, Timbavati is a place of Star Energy. Which is enchanting. One can go on and on – but a far better option would be to grab a copy of the book. It is intense, and complicated, but absolutely worth your time. At the end of the day, the message is clear: the white lions came to deliver a message about humanity’s relationship with nature and the planet – the time to take care of the earth is NOW. That simple – and that complicated. I believe that we should heed that call…

Jacqui Ikin & The Cross Country Team

INFO BLOCK:

The Book:
https://www.amazon.co.za/Mystery-White-Lions-Children-Sun/dp/1401927211

Linda Tucker Foundation:
https://www.lindatuckerfoundation.org/

Global White Lion Protection Trust:
https://whitelions.org/linda-tucker/

Ignite YOUR LionHeart – I speak for the Lion! | Linda Tucker | TEDxWilmington:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6-KZ_-x8pE