sangoma

1. (South Africa and other parts of Southern Africa) A (usually female) traditional healer or herbalist, or witch doctor.Examples: "The Natal Zulu believes in witchcraft, prophesy, love philtres, and such like. He is firmly fixed in his mind that the witch doctors and sangomas (female diviners) have power to bring rain, to trace spells of witchcraft, to heal by incantation, and to perform sundry other wonders and miracles."; "Sangoma is a type of healer rare in the surveyed area, but seems to be more common in other parts of Botswana. [...] In the majority of cases the Sangoma is a female, but some male Disangoma are found. The Sangoma would often, as a young person during a severe illness, be 'called' by the Badimo through a dream and then seek guidance and training from an elder Sangoma. [...] In some cases the Sangoma would specialise in some types of exorcism during which she would engage in singing, dancing and in some cases using her drum, often entering into a state of trance."; "Sangomas nowadays tend to have at least two or three, and at times as many as fifteen or more, spirits that guide and assist them in their healing practice. Sangomas describe a division of labour among such spirits whereby each tends to have a specialized purpose, ranging from guidance in diagnosis to help in collecting overdue patient fees."Synonyms: isangoma