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Glite Dictionary
🪔 A ritual vessel 🧙 A spiritual healer
nganga

nganga

9.9
A traditional healer who treats people and connects with spirits
  • noun
  • South African
translation icon : nganga
  • That meant, one of my Kenyan colleagues said, that he needed to be seen by a nganga, a traditional healer.
  • a traditional nganga
  • nganga luvumbu
  • nganga kitapa

Examples

  • Consulting a diviner, or nganga ngombo, will disclose the identity of the nkisi responsible for the disease.

    Academic text (2004)

  • The story told of a woman who felt neglected by her husband and had called on a nganga (healer) in order for him to brew a potion that would rekindle her husband's love.

    Academic text (1999)

  • The Tata's nganga is now in charge.

    Academic text (2001)

  • It is rather an exception to the rule that an individual chooses to become an nganga luvumbu; usually, he is "chosen" by an ancestor or an elder.

    Academic text (2004)

  • The nganga of Lunkanka walks about the village with his dog-bells (madibu) going dokolo-dokolo and wailing and keening as well.

    Academic text (2002)

  • She visited the nganga to seek help for her illness, believing in the healer's traditional remedies.

  • The nganga prepared a special potion to help the community with their health issues.

  • According to local beliefs, the nganga has the power to communicate with ancestors for guidance.

Synonyms

sangoma
vsnganga
  • South African
2 9.9

A traditional healer and spirit guide in southern Africa, especially among Zulu people, who uses herbs and rituals

is used across central and southern African cultures rather than only in the south

Surface Forms

nganga singular
ngangas plural

Etymology

Nganga also named the traditional healer or spiritual doctor who works with that pot and with plants to help people. So a nganga as a person is someone who uses 'spirit' power and remedies to heal and protect the community.