Sangomas are traditional healers deeply revered within various African cultures, particularly in Southern Africa. Their practice emerges from a rich tapestry of indigenous wisdom, ancestral connection, and spiritual traditions. Sangomas hold vital roles within their communities, bridging the physical, spiritual, and social realms to offer healing, guidance, and support.

What is a Sangoma?

Sangomas are often called by their ancestors and undergo rigorous training to cultivate their healing abilities. Key elements of their practice include:

• Divination: Sangomas employ various divination methods to gain insights into a person’s situation, diagnose imbalances, and identify potential solutions. These methods can include:
  • Throwing bones (such as astragal bones or cowrie shells) and interpreting the patterns in which they fall.
  • Interpreting dreams, which are seen as messages from the spirit world or the subconscious mind.
  • Consulting spiritual guides or ancestors through mediums or trance states.
  • Reading signs and omens from the natural world, such as the behavior of animals or the weather patterns.
• Herbalism: Sangomas possess a deep knowledge of plants and their medicinal properties. They use this knowledge to prepare herbal remedies for a wide range of ailments, both physical and emotional. These remedies may be administered internally as teas, poultices, or tinctures, or applied externally for wound healing or pain relief.
• Rituals and Ceremonies: Sangomas perform a variety of rituals and ceremonies to address different needs. These rituals may involve:
  • Cleansing rituals to remove negative energies or curses that are believed to be causing illness or misfortune.
  • Appeasing ancestral spirits who are believed to be angry or discontented.
  • Rites of passage to mark important life transitions, such as birth, marriage, or death.
  • Ceremonies to promote healing, restore harmony, or achieve specific goals.
• Spiritual Counseling: Sangomas act as spiritual counselors, providing guidance, support, and comfort to those who are struggling emotionally or spiritually. They may help people to connect with their ancestors, find meaning in life, and cope with difficult experiences.

How Can Sangomas Help You?

People seek the support of Sangomas to address a vast array of concerns, including:

• Physical Healing: Finding traditional herbal remedies and treatments for various ailments and physical discomforts.
• Emotional Well-being: Addressing emotional imbalances, trauma, and facilitating emotional healing processes.
• Spiritual Guidance: Seeking wisdom, connecting with ancestral spirits, and navigating spiritual concerns.
• Cleansing and Protection: Undergoing rituals for cleansing negative energies and enhancing spiritual protection.

What are Sangomas Good For?

Within their cultural context, Sangomas are integral to community well-being, offering help for:

• Health and Healing: Serving as primary healthcare providers, particularly in rural areas or where access to Western medicine is limited.
• Conflict Resolution: Utilizing their wisdom and spiritual connection to mediate conflicts and restore harmony within families or the community.
• Preservation of Cultural Traditions: Sangomas embody the traditional healing practices, rituals, and beliefs, essential to the cultural identity of their communities.
• Addressing Misfortune: Often consulted when misfortunes arise, offering divination to reveal the source and rituals to restore balance.

Benefits of Consulting Sangomas

Engaging the services of a Sangoma might provide:

• Holistic Approach: Treating the whole person, not just isolated symptoms, recognizing the interconnectedness of physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of health.
• Connection to Ancestors: Facilitating ancestral connection for healing and guidance, a key aspect of many African spiritual traditions.
• Community Support: Often offering a sense of connection within the community and traditional structures of support.
• Traditional Knowledge: Access to indigenous healing remedies and practices passed down through generations.

What to Expect from a Sangoma Consultation

Each Sangoma practice is unique, but generally, a consultation might involve:

• Divination: Employing divination techniques to understand the root cause of concerns and identify pathways for healing.
• Discussion: Sharing your needs, concerns, and medical history, allowing the Sangoma to tailor their approach.
• Treatment Plan: Often includes prescribed herbal remedies, rituals, or instructions for practices to perform at home.
• Payment: Customary forms of payment vary, and establishing this understanding beforehand is essential.

Similar Modalities to Sangoma

Other forms of traditional healing share similarities with Sangoma practices:

• Shamans: Indigenous healers from various cultures worldwide, often emphasizing spiritual journeys and interaction with the spirit world.
• Curanderos: Traditional healers in Latin American cultures utilizing herbs, rituals, and spiritual cleansing for healing.
• Ayurvedic Practitioners: Traditional Indian medicine with a holistic approach, employing herbal remedies, dietary recommendations, and practices for overall health.

Final Thoughts

Sangomas serve as custodians of sacred healing traditions deeply interwoven with the cultural fabric of their communities. When approached with respect and understanding of the cultural context, interacting with a Sangoma can be a powerful experience for those seeking healing, guidance, or a connection to ancestral wisdom.

Scientific References

• Philip, C. & Foster, D. (1997) Religion and Magic: Approaches to Healing in South African Divination, Critical Studies, 9:1-2, 1-17, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4651463/
• Richter, M. (2003). Traditional medicines and traditional healers in South Africa. A discussion paper for the Treatment Action Campaign and AIDS Law project [PDF File].
• Kale, R. (1995). Traditional healers in South Africa: a parallel health care system. British Medical Journal, 310(6988), 1182–1185. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.310.6988.1182

Recommended Reading

• Janzen, John M. (1992). Ngoma: discourses of healing in Central and Southern Africa. University of California Press. https://amzn.to/3Ub6fDD
• Shepstone, H.J. (1930). A Sangoma Initiation Ceremony. Africa, 3(2), 148–167. https://doi.org/10.2307/1155700