Sangomas - South Africa's Shamans

A Sangoma is a traditional healer, who is called on by the Ancestors to a life of divination and healing. Sangomas play a prominent role in South African society, and are consulted for most ailments, physical, spiritual and financial. They are more than healers though, and play a central role in community life. They practice their healing by "throwing bones".

                          

"The patient or diviner throws bones on the floor, which may include animal vertebrae, dominoes, dice, coins, shells and stones, each with a specific significance to human life. For example, a hyena bone signifies a thief and will provide information about stolen objects. The sangoma or the patient throws the bones but the ancestors control how they lie. The sangoma then interprets this metaphor in relation to the patient's afflictions, what the ancestors of the patient require, and how to resolve the disharmony." (Wikipedia) 

                                                   

Both men and women can be called to become a Sangoma, and it is a calling that is impossible to ignore, as events in the person's life will become increasingly negative, to a degree that they are forced to consult a traditional healer themselves, who will then inform them of their calling. The person could suffer from inexplicable illness, vivid and disturbing dreams, and general malaise in all other areas of their life.

In African culture, Ancestoral Spirits are revered and worshipped. They provide guidance to their living relatives and must be included in every family event, such as weddings and funerals. These Ancestors also provide a channel to God. It is the Ancestors who choose the Sangoma, who on having discovered their calling, must then undergo training. A fully fledged Sangoma then has the ability to channel the Ancestors, or even become possessed by them, during rituals of drumming and dancing.

Sangomas go through an arduous initiation and training process, and when their training is complete they are called before the local community, during a celebration where a goat is sacrificed, and tested by the elders. The calling to become a Sangoma does not discriminate by class, and quite a few South African celebrities have taken a break from their successful careers to complete training as a healer.

      

The role of traditional healers is so entrenched in African society that they are legally recognised by the South African government, and a sick note from a Sangoma must be accepted by employers. As an employer I have only received one, though. Western medicine has also showed an interest in traditional African herbal remedies.  "Well known contributions to world medicine from South African herbal remedies include aloe, buchu and devil's claw." (Wikipedia)

                                                                              

Sangoma's are not to be confused with witch doctors. Sangomas are healers, witch doctors are often the practioners of dark magic and cast spells. In South Africa, unfortunately there is an incidence of "muthi" (medicine) murders where body parts are needed for powerful spells. African albinos are particularly targeted in this heinous practice, as are very young children. Often violent criminals will consult these witch doctors for tokens of "power" before committing their crimes.

              

"It’s a dirty little secret in South Africa, one that as of 2010, is a problem once again on the rise. Called “muti murders” or “medicine murders” (sometimes termed “ritual murder” or muthi-murder), it takes its name from the Zulu word “muti”, the term for traditional black magic medicines that utilize human body parts and flesh as critical ingredients in order to produce supposedly miraculous medicinal effects. The phenomenon is widely acknowledged to occur in southern Africa where it is estimated that from 50%-90% of the population believe in black magic and witchcraft. Body parts from dead corpses work fine for their purposes but the best muti medicine ingredients are taken from body parts that are harvested while the victim is still alive.  The Limpopoprovince alone once recorded 250 muti-murders in a single year."  http://altereddimensions.net/2013/african-muti-medicine-murders-hospitals-sell-body-parts-murderers-harvest-organs-from-live-victims-witch-doctors-black-magic-spells

As a shop owner I have quite a few regular customers who are Sangomas. They are just ordinary people and not threatening at all. I live in an area adjacent to farmland, and often find snakes on my property. My African staff have killed quite a few puff adders as they sell the dead snake to the sangomas/witch doctors. The last time was a few years ago and they told me that they received R100 ($7) for one, which at that stage was the same as a day's wages.

I have the tendency to dream vividly, especially about water, and while I don't know what those dreams mean, I know they are significant. I have been told numerous times that I am a Sangoma, sometimes seriously, and often jokingly, as I have regular customers who tell me they can't come to town without visiting the shop. Some customers visit everyday. They ask me what "muthi" I use!

                      

                     (all images licensed for re-use)

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