SA Celebrities Who Are Sangomas - ZAlebs

There has been a new wave of consciousness sweeping across Mzansi in the last few years. Many people are starting to awaken to our traditional African beliefs, and trying to figure out how they fit into the modern world. 

 
With the wave, we have seen many celebrities accept their ancestral calling, of the gift of ubungoma. Some have gone as far as to undertake the journey of training to become sangomas. 

Here are some SA celebrities who are sangomas.

Television host Luyanda Potwana is Mzansi's number one Television host. The TV star who hosts one of the country's most controversial reality show Nyan Nyan, kicks off the list of SA celebrities who are sangomas. 

Unlike many celebrities, Luyanda kept his calling and journey out of the spotlight and continues to do so. That is not to say that the journey has not been exciting or rewarding for him, as he recently reported that he would be taking it to the next level – he got spiritual stripes and a crown. 

Next on the list SA celebrities who are sangomas is the Skeem Saam actor, Mlungisi Mathe who plays the role of Emkay.  In a recent interview, the actor revealed that he answered his ancestral calling and is currently a practicing sangoma.

He stated in the interview that he’s also a medium and a spiritualist, besides his calling to be a sangoma: “I read books, the Bible and interpret dreams and people’s journeys.” He is incredibly spiritually gifted, and we have to admit that we are a little envious.

Media personality Masechaba Ndlovu takes the spot as the first lady on the list of SA celebrities who are sangomas. Masechaba accepted her ancestral calling and in 2012 revealed that she is a qualified sangoma. Her announcement did not come as a surprise to many as she had hinted, in 2019, that she would be accepting her ancestral calling and going on the journey. 

Unfortunately for Masechaba, her announcement was not met with the level of enthusiasm that she had hoped for. She was dragged for turning such a sacred journey into a photo opportunity by sharing it on social media.

After the tragic death of a close family member, actor Zola Hashatsi started his ancestral journey and secured a spot on the list of SA celebrities who are sangomas. In a past interview, the actor opened up about how he felt he was led to embark on the sacred journey.  

“I think after my great-grandmother died in 2009, she became my ancestor and was always protecting me from evil things. I should have listened to the call in 2009, but I did not understand it... I still believe in the Lord, but I am a child of the soil,” he told the Daily Sun early in 2021.

Actress Oratile Maitisa who is well know for playing the role of Eunice on Skeem Saam is the next SA celebrity who is a sangoma. The actress took to her Instagram account to announce that she is officially a sangoma. Oratile posted pictures of herself clad in traditional sangoma regalia, much to the excitement of her followers who congratulated her on her journey.

"Knowing you have the ability to help people is amazing yet challenging because people come with different situations," she said, speaking to TshisaLIVE.

As a steady member on the list of SA celebrities who are sangomas, Lerato Mvelase accepted her calling way back in 2015. The actress spent six months training to become a traditional healer. The time away from her family was tough but worth it.

“It was very hard on my kids. I mean my kids sleep with me, even today. So for them to wake up and mommy isn’t there...it was very hard for my kids after six months of me being away but kids are very understanding actually. We don’t give them enough credit,” she told Metro FM in 2018.

Another veteran member on the list of SA celebrities who are sangomas is Phelo Bala who accepted his calling back in 2014.  After experiencing physical body changes that scared him, a family member advised Bala to see a sangoma and he soon learned the real reason for the changes in his life.  

While the Christian singer was criticised for becoming a traditional healer, he was determined to learn more about his culture.

Next on the list of SA celebrities who are sangomas is veteran actress Nandi Nyembe who had her sangoma initiation when she was a teenager. “I was so sick that my mother had to take me to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. At some point, doctors had to test my urine and surprisingly it came out with soil but there was nothing wrong with me,” she told Drum in 2016. 

While the Ashes to Ashes star is no longer a practising sangoma, she assists her daughter, who is also a traditional healer, with her healing duties.

Popular kwaito musician L’Vovo revealed in 2016 that he went on a five-month spiritual journey in KwaZulu-Natal to become a sangoma. But he admitted he did it to honour his grandmother and did not intend to practice his calling.

“I did it all for my gogo. I don’t want to be a sangoma. I’m a musician, that’s all… I wouldn’t have ignored this spiritual calling as I respect my culture and my religion,” he told the Daily Sun.

The Soil‘s Buhle Mda took a break from her music career in 2016 to attend initiation school to become a sangoma. She graduated seven months later and joined the list of SA celebrities who are sangomas. 

Speaking in an interview, Buhle said she has always been a healer. “I was born a healer. I was healing way before I went in for initiation. If God or my ancestors instruct me to do something, then I'll do it.”

Being a traditional healer is certainly a huge calling. Many may downplay the importance of what these celebrities have done, making it look like just another “trend” that everybody is hopping on for clout. But it is great to see that our traditions are considered important enough to matter even to the rich and famous.

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