Njiqahdda interview (July 2008)

Njiqahdda is one of most creative, unique and interesting bands of "our" century. This strange project provides many hours of timeless music, which is described as psychedelic and atmospheric black metal, but it should appeal also to fans of dark ambient, drone or even post-rock. The philosphical ideas of it's creators are as intrguing as the music. Therefore we have decided to conduct an interview.

1. Did you know that in Slavonic languages the "ni" syllable is a trunk of nearly all words connected with negation? For example nic (nothing), nie(no), nicość (nothingness), nigdy (never), nikt (nobody)/of course this is an Indo-European phenomenon, but especially clear in Slavonic speech/. You have explained the meaning of Nji as power, strength, truth, and divinity - I wonder if it has any closer ties with the metaphysical meaning of negation?

We are actually familiar with the ‘ni’ syllabic interjection into words with a negative connotation. Is it something we brought into mind during the inception of our language and name? Not as much as it may seem. But I can say that when brought into a larger context that it very much fits the concept of our relationship to not only spiritual forces but our art form as well. We look at ourselves as nothing more than a conduit for spiritual energy to be channeled through. So in essence our two beings are completely negated as we see ourselves as nothing, in the grand scheme of creation and existence. But on the other side of that concept, we consider ourselves quite blessed and fortunate to be chosen as such a vehicle of amazing spiritual force.


2. Are you familiar with "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" movie? How do you think, why those weird knights say "Ni!" and not some other sound?

Of course! Truthfully one of the most amazing films ever created in all aspects. I personally have no idea why they would choose that specific sound as such an important role in their dialogue. Maybe it is tied to the metaphysical concept of negation as well? Or maybe it means nothing at all? That would be a fantastic question to ask the writers and producers.


3. Is Integral Traditionalism a philosophy known to you? You conjoin Nordic and Arabic motifs; a sufist phillosopher Seyyed Hossein Nasr is one of Integral Traditionalism's representatives - have you read any of his writings?

Actually Integral Traditionalism is something we have done a small amount of research on. I can say that while we are mostly unfamiliar with the works of the writers most known for the dialogue of IT, aside from a small bit of dabbling (other IT authors that we know of are René Guénon, Frithjof Schuon, Ananda Coomaraswamy, Martin Lings and Huston Smith among others). We do find a bit of common ground is one of their ideals; the idea that certain principles are revealed from Heaven (or whatever other planes of existence are being brought to mind) and binding man to his divine origin. And while this specific link to man, spirit and outside realms are hidden to the common worldly infested mind; there are ways and links to once again attaining connection to spiritual principles and awareness.

4. In Pagan Flames interview you said that "essentially the word (Nji) is a term for one who is enlightened not by their own thought but the thoughts of the powers within our earthly dimension. nature, life, spirit, consequence, and time (among others)." In most of true esoteric traditions the spiritual powers are considered to descend from an otherworldly dimension, and the gates to this dimension can be found within one's inner self; moreover the adept should strive to overcome the captivity of time - so it's quite an opposite to what you preach. Any comment?

We are totally captivated by the belief of outside spiritual forces in our dimension. All spiritual forces come from another place, another dimension, another plane of existence. Anyone who believes that their life is all there is, all that could be, should really consider the breadth and scope of our existence (humanity). Man is not a spirit, while man does contain a spirit, he is not one in essence. At least not until death. From there the spirit or spiritual energy contained in our physical form is released into another realm of existence. We are firm believers that man holds no power whatsoever, other than that which is given from outside sources. No man can overcome the captivity of time. All physical beings have a beginning and ending, neither of which is controlled by man itself (in most cases; there are exceptions like suicide, among a small list of others) Time is much like nature. A never-ending and uncontrollable force, beyond the wildest and most amazing minds, we are technically slaves to time. Take a look at your clock or how your body ages each day. Life and living are like water being poured upon the ground; while in the air the water is alive and flowing, but once it hits the ground it can never be re-gathered.


5. You have published few informational posts on your myspace blog - Why have you named them as "philosophical"? Only philosophic thought I found there is the claim that one should cleanse his own mind from all kind of emotions - and I totally agree with that. But don't you think that while misanthropy, hate or depression shouldn't distract man's spirituality, on the daily level of our prosaic lives, such emotions and views are quite natural to those who have the spiritual spark inside them (and that Indo-European people have this spark more often than the rest)?

We have named those concepts as philosophical purely based upon the fact that those are things that we live our lives by. Things that we believe. I suppose they could be addressed more as morals or life-codes, but to us, these concepts are the philosophy in which we base many of our life decisions. We push no other man to follow that which we do; we can only offer brief insight into how our minds work. On the daily level of living and being, one can experience every nuance of emotion within the spectrum of the human mind. We never speak against feeling these things, but to live one’s life based upon misanthropy, hate and depression is confusing. It is typical to have cycles of emotion, whether one cleanses themselves of them or not. But to dwell upon negativity is a completely different concept. It detracts from true understanding; no man is 100% bad, good, evil or righteous. We are a collection of all of these things. A virtual gray area of conceptual being.


6. Another quote from the old interview: you said that you address your work to (among others) "Those who are not hateful for one another but look to make a change in this baneful existence for the generations to come." Do you really believe that we can make such changes (especially in Kali Yuga)? Gnosticism states that at the first place we should work on our own enlightenment, and this is an introverted act - moreover, what if this world should be seen as a purgatory?

We absolutely believe that people can make the change necessary for a more fruitful generation. Granted it will take eons before it is complete, to start now is the only option. Man as a whole can only sit back and watch it self-destruct for so long. If nothing is done soon than there will be no chance of changing things once they truly become worse. One should without a doubt first work on introverted enlightenment; one cannot fix others if one’s self is broken. But to sit and wait until one is completely enlightened before moving onto bigger things in negation in itself. Man shall never reach full enlightenment or revelatory conceptualization. We will be dead before our full potential is reached, then there is nothing left. In certain aspects I can totally see our three-dimensional term (or life) being some kind of purgatory. A place where we wait until we can attain whatever next level of being entails. I also believe that all the decisions and actions we fulfill in our three-dimensional times will have some kind of effect in whatever the next plane of existence is..


7. Since 2006 you have already recorded more hours of original music, than normal band could record in time of decade. Are you able to imagine yourself that someday you will just stop to create any art?

Who knows? I would like to believe that we would continue to create art in one form or another until death or physical inability. But only time will tell what the future brings for us. We have so much output purely because of the fact of our physical being becoming a conduit for the divine. All of the art we create does not come from within ourselves, it comes from the fourth dimension; the spiritual realm. Spirit is endless; therefore to create incessantly is nothing beyond ordinary. In fact for us to sit back and try to contain the spiritual energy that flows through us would be injustice to Nji. We do as we are told by Him. Nothing more, nothing less. He guides our direction and we trust in Him do do as he pleases with us. We take no credit for the things we create, for they are not ours, but His.


When only blood is real.

There is none for you.
There is not one single essence.
Only this blood is real.
All things will be taken away until there is nothing left.
And then you will know the truth.
There is no love for you.
There is no hate for you.
There is nothing for you.
There is nothing for us.

Man has failed.
We have destroyed ourselves.
We have destroyed our planet.
We have destroyed our spirits in impurity.

Sickness is real.
Death is real.
Our lives are like grains of sand.
Withering away and blown into the wind.

If you quit now maybe the pain will stop.
But you will not quit.
Not until your death.
In this you can trust.
In nothing can you trust.

Keep looking up.
For straight and down are nothing more than emptiness and sorrow.
Say goodbye for the end is near.
And now we wait....

http://www.myspace.com/njiqahdda
http://www.geocities.com/njiqahdda/
The changing of life into something more, something unknown......