Sangomas are traditional healers in southern African cultures, including the Venda, Zulu, and Xhosa. Known as "Mungome" in Venda and "Sangoma" in Zulu, they play a vital role as intermediaries between the living and the ancestors. Sangomas use spiritual guidance to diagnose ailments, provide remedies, and foretell future events. Their practices often involve drum rituals, as "ngoma" in both Venda and Zulu means "drum," symbolizing the connection to the ancestors during ceremonies. They conduct initiation rituals for trainees and use divination techniques, like bone casting, to offer guidance. Sangomas also perform important societal functions by warning of disasters and restoring harmony. They are distinguished from "Inyanga" (Ṅanga in Venda), who specialize in herbal medicine, while sangomas focus on spiritual healing and ancestral communication.
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