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Muti: sangomas & inyangas

• Miracle Cures, Health Quackery

A look at Muti, traditional African medicine:

A python skin competes for space with a dead vulture and a baboon on the ceiling. Other concoctions of an indeterminate nature are placed inside labelled bottles. "Isende lehashi" (horse penis) "Zamafufunyane" (for nightmares and hysteria), "Owobusoka" - (Guaranteed to improve the romantic fortunes of a bachelor), "Zikatokoloshe" (to ward off an imaginary evil goblin that is said to reign terror at night). ...

Sangomas, says Mkhwanazi, normally pick up two general kinds of bad luck. One is inflicted through witchcraft, usually by a jealous rival. The other shade of bad luck is caused by unhappy ancestors. It is here that patients are counselled to slaughter a beast to appease and rekindle relations with the ancestors.

"In other words, sangomas diagnose and prescribe, while we inyangas generally heal, although we can also prescribe, depending on the nature of the problem or whether our ancestors give us the power to help a patient," explains Ngema.

Thomas Thale & Bongani Majola , Mai Mai: a true African bazaar

Richard Evans Lee
December 04, 2003 •
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Comments

hello i`m a south african in canada,i`m having problems with the local spirits.They blame Pretoria for my fate,they claim to be tired of me.They say i fall under the gangstar grouping and if i`m to be successful,i to must be a sangoma. I don`t want to be fooled.Please help me. thxs daniel

Posted by: daniel murphy | April 9, 2004 1:17 PM

Can you please refer me to a site where I can learn more about traditional healing and sangomas, and their beliefs

Posted by: Lynn | April 16, 2004 9:24 AM

I am interested in the extent to which traditional African religion survives today, especially among the Zulus. I know that many Zulus mix traditional beliefs with Christianity. However, what I really want to know is how many Zulus (if any) subscribe solely to the traditional religion and are NOT Christian at all.

Posted by: John Burridge | April 29, 2004 12:55 PM

i think that your gift was given to protect and not destroy .most of you are used to destroy lives cause your "patients" have so much hate and jealousy. why not try teaching you patients not to hate so much. i have found through my personal experience that sangomas get used to inflict pain and mental torment.what i dont understand is why certain sangomas allow themselves to be part of such cruel and vindictive ways ,and whats worse,is the fact that your ancestors allow themselves to part of it.shoul'd all of you be concerntrating on making life better,finding a cure for sickness .why does'snt anybody ask "the ancestors to help the less privalege ,the starving etc. feel free to respond .i know it will take a while cause you have to consult the ancestors about my letter v.c(very confused)

Posted by: very confused | July 11, 2004 4:30 AM

How do you feel?

Feel free to share your feelings about Muti: sangomas & inyangas. Please stick to the theme of the entry. Disagreement is fine. Homophobia, racism, and kindred expressions of hatred will be deleted. This site is one of my hobbies. I genuinely enjoy hearing from people and hate moderating or killing comments. Forthright disagreement is fine as long as it is civil.
My thanks,
Richard

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