sangoma
2
9.9
- noun
- South African
:
sangoma
- The sangoma performed a ritual to guide the spirits and offer advice to the community.
Examples
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Consulting a sangoma is common in Zulu culture when families need spiritual guidance.
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When faced with illness, many patients seek the help of a sangoma for traditional healing.
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The Sangoma takes whatever they need for a specific outcome.
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I'm the local Sangoma, what are you telling these women?
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Is the Sangoma here to heal father?
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A Sangoma is a traditional South African shaman.
Blog text (16) -
When troubled by affliction, individuals or families, often accompanied by close friends, attend a sangoma's divination.
Academic text (1996) -
Inyangas and sangomas, traditional healers and diviners, also have such knowledge.
Academic text (1996) -
This wasn't just a novelty, though; there are more sangomas in South Africa than Western-trained doctors, and most people consult with sangomas in conjunction with more modern services for a holistic approach to health care.
Blog text (18)
Synonyms
A traditional healer who treats people and connects with spirits
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word sangoma comes from southern African languages and names a traditional healer who speaks to the 'ancestors' and guides people in spirit matters. Some people link it to the word ngoma ('song' or 'drum'), so a helpful way to remember sangoma is as a 'spirit doctor' who uses songs, drums and herbs to heal.