A sangoma is a practitioner of ubungoma, a philosophy based on a belief in ancestral spirits (amadlozi, amadloti, vadzimu, badimo, izinyanya) and the practice of indigenous African medicine, which is often a mix of medicinal plants and various animal body fats or skin. Healers in Southern Africa practice indigenous African medicine and play a variety of social and political roles in the community, including divination, healing physical, emotional, and spiritual illnesses and being the narrators of their culture’s history, cosmology, and different concepts. In this video, Magriza and Gogo MaSibanda offer us a guide on how to use African herbs as a way of improving one’s overall health. Additionally, the guests discuss the concept of African spirituality and the role of healers towards conserving indigenous knowledge systems.
Connect with Gogo Mankomo and Gogo MaSibanda: +263-778-161-453
Herbs Discussed in this Video:
1. Intolwane – Elephant’s foot (English), Chizezana, Chizezepasi, Mupangara, Mosibe, Changana, Omundjoze, Xixuvari, Umdabu
2. Umgugudu – Inkinza, Mupama, Rough-leaved shepherds tree, Umbalabala
3. Umganu – Bark of the Amarula Tree
4. Isafice – Muacha, Mubedu, Mulilila, Raisin bush
5. Imphepha/Imphepho – Helichrysum
6. Umlomo Mnandi – This herb is infused with Intolwane and Umgugudu so as to provide a sweet-like taste to the two combined herbs.
7. Isihaqa – Muremberembe/Muvheneka, Moelela, Wild garlic, Wildeknoffel
8. Imbiza – Imbiza refers to natural herbs or any mixture of roots, bulbs and leaves used for medicinal purposes. Imbiza represents healing.
9. Umlotha – Wood ash