Holistic Healing

A Sangoma in Mdantsane

Today on our way home from an interview, we encountered in Nu 9 a sangoma walking on the road.
A sangoma is a traditional South African healer and herbalist. Sangomas are highly respected and revered in the South African society and we felt honored that he allowed us to take his picture. 

We are proud, that we have attracted so many readers interested in the South African culture from other countries with our magazine during the last two years. For them we have compiled a small resume relating to the definition of a sangoma.

For our readers, who are interested in learning more about traditional African medicine and healing we have a short movie on our youtube channel that you can watch "The Seven Day Sbunge - A Visit To A Traditional African Pharmacy' and there is our article about "Amagqirha The Way Of Divine Healing".

Sangomas are herbalist and healers. Their approach to healing is a holistic one.

The philosophy of a sangoma is based on a belief in ancestral spirits.  Both men and women can be called by the ancestors, though sangomas are often female. A consequence of refusing the calling is usually ongoing physical or mental illness. 

Historically the sangoma role has been the preserve of the black African people, but post-Apartheid white South Africans have also entered the profession.J
John Lockley is reputedly one of the first white men in recent history to become a fully initiated Xhosa sangoma. A trainee sangoma (or twaza) trains under another sangoma, usually for a period of years, performing humbling services in the community.

A sangoma is a practitioner of herbal medicine and divination in South Africa

A sangoma is a practitioner of herbal medicine, divination and counseling in the traditional Nguni Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele and Swazi societies of Southern Africa - effectively an African shaman. They perform a holistic and symbolic form of healing, embedded in the belief that ancestors in the afterlife guide and protect the living.

Sangomas are called to heal, and through them ancestors from the spirit world can give instructions and advice to heal illness, social disharmony and spiritual difficulties.

Sangomas have many different social and political roles in the community: divination, healing directing rituals, counteracting witches, and narrating the history, cosmology, and myths of their tradition. For harmony between the living and the dead, vital for a trouble-free life, the ancestors must be shown respect through ritual and animal sacrifice.