Traditional healers of Southern Africa

Traditional healers of Southern Africa are practitioners of traditional African medicine in Southern Africa. They fulfill different social and political roles in the community, including divination, healing physical, emotional and spiritual illnesses, directing birth or death rituals, finding lost cattle, protecting warriors, counteracting witches, and narrating the history, cosmology, and myths of their tradition.

Types of traditional healers[edit | edit source]

There are two main types of traditional healers within the Nguni, Sotho-Tswana, and Tsonga societies of Southern Africa: the diviner (sangoma), and the herbalist (inyanga). These practitioners are often misunderstood to be the same thing, but they are distinct in their practices and their roles in society.

Sangoma[edit | edit source]

A sangoma is a practitioner of ngoma, a philosophy based on a belief in ancestral spirits (Zulu: amadlozi; Sesotho: badimu; Tsonga: midzimu) and the practice of traditional African medicine. Sangomas are called to heal, and through them it is believed that ancestors from the spirit world can give instruction and advice to heal illness, social disharmony and spiritual difficulties.

Inyanga[edit | edit source]

An inyanga is concerned mainly with medicines made from plants and animals, while a sangoma relies primarily on divination for healing purposes and might also be considered a type of fortune teller. In modern times, both have been grouped together under the umbrella term "traditional healers", along with others like the seer and the prophet.

Training[edit | edit source]

The training of traditional healers is known as twasa. It involves learning humility to the ancestors, purification through steaming, washing in the blood of sacrificed animals, and the use of muti, medicines with spiritual significance.

Role in society[edit | edit source]

Traditional healers of Southern Africa are highly respected and considered a vital part of the community. They provide guidance and serve as a bridge between the living and the spiritual world. They also play a crucial role in the physical, mental, and emotional health of individuals in their community.

Challenges[edit | edit source]

Despite their importance, traditional healers face numerous challenges. These include the lack of formal recognition by the government, the stigma associated with their practices, and the threat posed by modern medicine.