In this blog, I will explore the Sangoma healers of South Africa.
In South Africa, there are may tribes (example: the Zulu). Within these tribes there are healers. Healers practice many different methods to cure or fix various things. In communities each healer has a role; some may heal physical, mental or spiritual illnesses. Some can direct birth or death rituals, find lost cattle, protect lost warriors, or sense witches. Some are storytellers of the cosmology (the study of the origin, evolution and fate of the universe), history and/or myths of their traditions.
There are two main kinds of traditional healers in Southern Africa.
They are: the Sangoma and the Inyanga.
Both of these healers are what we would call "shaman" in the Western culture.
The Sangoma is a healer which is called upon by their ancestors, and can heal in different ways. Although a Sangoma can heal by using herbs, they will mostly partake in practices such as protecting their tribe from evil spirits, fixing social issues, interpreting dreams, sensing witches or solving community dilemmas.
An Inyanga is a doctor. An Inyanga uses herbs to heal physical ailments. Inyangas may communicate with their ancestors but are not, at any time, called upon by their ancestors.
They are both highly respected, as they are believed to have the ability to cure illness caused by witchcraft.
It is estimated that there are about 200,000 practicing Sangomas compared to about 25,000 Western medical-doctors in South Africa. 84% of the South African population seek a Sangoma more than 3 times a year.
Most Sangomas are women, even though they can be female or male. It is believe that a person who experiences "initiation illness", or ukuthwasa (severe headache, stomach pain or psychosis), is indeed a healer.
If a person is then contacted by their ancestors, they are expected to train with a more experienced Sangoma to become one themselves. This mentor helps them to connect on an even deeper level with their ancestors.
They dance to drums, chant traditional songs, "steam" (boil plants and inhale the steam produced all while sitting under a blanket and sweating), and use "muti" (a term used for medicine; muti is the Zulu word for tree, of which the root word is -thi) to become more bound with their ancestors.
Many years ago it would take approximately 25 years of practice to become a Sangoma. Currently, however, it takes between 5 and 7 years to graduate as a Sangoma.
Once they become a Sangoma they can protect people or fix social problems or other community dilemmas. A Sangoma may lead a regular lifestyle and even have another "job" if they wish to.
While in South Africa there is no fixed list of equipment which Sangomas must use, or specifications for clothes they must wear, it still reflects their important connection to their ancestors.
This being said, there are some defining clothing items which the Sangomas often wear. One of these items is the gallbladder of a goat...which is tied into one's hair. This gallbladder is special because it comes from the goat which was slaughtered at the Sangoma's graduation. This gallbladder is said to call the ancestors.
Below is a photo of a ritual underway at the graduation of a Sangoma.
Many times, a cluster of horns is worn around the neck, as well as beads and medicinal herbs. A Sangoma may also wear the hide of a goat.
Below is a photo of a Sangoma dressed in their traditional regalia:
Photo source:
http://www.peuplesawa.com/fr/bnnews.php?nid=1666
To summons ancestors, a Sangoma will enter a trance. To aid with this a sacred plant, such as imphepho, will be burned. Sometimes they will use tobacco as well. Dancing, chanting or playing drums with help to channel the ancestors.
I found that the indigenous practices featured in this blog match my own Mi'kmaq cultural practices more closely than anything other African practices I have researched so far. The Mi'kmaq,too, use medicinal herbs to heal, and burn sacred grass and use tobacco to pray and summon ancestors.
They also play drums and sing chants, and wear similar regalia. As you can see, bead work is worn in both cultures. The woman above is wearing regalia with a six-point star, and it is possible the woman below is wearing an eight-point star somewhere on her regalia (symbolic in the Mi'kmaq culture).
Below is a photo of some Mi'kmaq regalia (notice how similar the beadwork is to that of the Sangoma):
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"Traditional Healers of South Africa." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Oct. 2014. Web. 02 Nov. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_healers_of_South_Africa>.
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