If it wasn't sad, it would be amusing to note the amount of people, who - despite claiming to be proudly African - know very little about the world of traditional healing and the "code of conduct" healers and people with a spiritual calling have to adhere to.
Nobody understands this more than Boity Thulo who has experienced a wave of scrutiny for how she lives, how she dresses and her fondness for social media considering her gift.
Thulo and Generations The Legacy's Letoya Makhene are not the only ones with the gift. Take a look at other ZAlebs who got the calling:
Unathi Nkayi
Speaking to Destiny, Nkayi confirmed, “it’s not an official thing that has a beginning and an end. I just know that I am becoming more spiritually aware and I know that it is something granted to me by my forefathers. As to what it will eventually be or how the healing has to happen, these are things that will be revealed to me. I just know that I have a responsibility for healing, and that’s something that’s been consistent throughout my family. We dream, we see, we feel – singabantu abam’hlophe (“we are a people with a strong connection to our ancestry”)."
L'Vovo Derrango
Although the Kwaito star went to thwasa back in 2016 to honor his grandmothers' wishes, he has always insisted that he will not be a practicing healer. This is because his heart lies in music and he wishes to continue making music.
Dawn Thandeka King
In a past interview, King was quoted as saying "when you get the calling, you do not have a choice. You have to attend to it. It is filled with energy and you have to be assisted by other healers to help you. I went through a lot but I was helped and I realised that the gift can be channelled in several ways."
Mmabatho Montsho
Speaking to Metro FM's Fresh Breakfast team, Monthso, shared the fact that she has a gift after Somizi made a comment: "thokoza Gogo Ndlozi." "It's actually Mthimkulu," she stated, before adding, "that is the dlozi that I thwasad." Listen to the interview below:
Buhle Mda
In a 2016 radio interview with Mo Flava, Buhle mentioned that she did not make the decision to take a break from her musical band, The Soil, just for the sake of it and had actually taken the time to ensure that she was making the right decision.
“It’s not something that I just woke up and decided to do, it’s been a constant thing that’s been on my mind and I would say now it’s long overdue. So I have to take on this journey in order for me to be a better and a new me," she said.
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What to read next: Letoya Makhene is unapologetic about her ancestral duties
Main image credit: instagram.com/dawnthandeka_king/