Sangomas or inyangas are shamans, healers,
priests, and prophets that have been
the backbone of Bantu communities, especially
in the rural areas of Southern Africa
for eons. However, with rapid Westernization
and the increasing allure of the
commodity market, the old ways are rapidly
eroding. Indigenous knowledge has
always been transmitted orally, and there
is little written down about the secret traditions
of initiation. Hence, the bibliography
listed at the end of this article is scant.
This information is a result of personal
experience gleaned during my own initiation
into the world of sangoma and my
subsequent experiences with these healing
realms. The knowledge has been gained
experientially and not by the scientific
method. Some of it is secret and cannot be
revealed. The information may differ
somewhat from healer to healer but the
general principles are the same. Most sub-
Saharan African peoples believe in the importance
of the ancestors being able to
guide events, and they revere them because
they have this power. I mostly will
be describing the traditions that I encountered
during my initiation and subsequent
practice. There are others.
Since sangoma wisdom is an oral tradition
the individual’s initiation will depend
on the mentor and the spirit guides involved.
That particular sangoma’s healing
repertoire will be somewhat different to
another though the principles remain the
same. The ancestors find the most efficient
way to impart the information so
that the healer can do the work. The way
in which they transmit the knowledge will
be unique to that person’s receptivity and
talents.
Objective proof is not part of the experiential
training. In fact, any attempt at
systematic inquiry gets in the way of the
process. One has to put cognitive, leftbrained
intellect aside. Obsession with
data obliterates the intuitive. The sangoma
or inyanga has a lot to teach the West
about the spirit world and our ancestral
roots. Science has put us in touch with a
magical universe of technology. We may
be technically advanced, but when it
comes to psychospiritual wizardry we are
really only beginners.