Humanitarian Photography and Shamanism in South Africa
Josephine is a traditional South African healer known as a sangoma. Sangomas summon the power of the ancestors to provide guidance for the living. Note the aluminum cans and drums to awaken the ancestors and the use of candles to light the path for the spirits. She has also prepared the bones she will throw to channel ancestral guidance.
Photograph: ©Steven Wade Adams, South Africa, 2024
Storyteller Photography and African Spiritualism
In September, 2024, I had the opportunity to travel to South Africa and Eswatini to meet and photograph the warm people of this complex culture in a phenomenal land. These intimate interactions provided a unique opportunity for humanitarian and storyteller photography that I hope will stir your curiosity. In the next series of blogs, I will share some of my stories from this experience along with many of my images that represent not only the unique cultural elements of South Africa, but of our common humanity, hope and the resilient human spirit.
The South African people have endured centuries of hardship at the hands of colonialism yet consistently welcomed us outsiders with a warm smile and an open heart. I will write about this more directly another time, but this particular post will focus on spiritualism and shamanism in Southern Africa.
While odd to western sensibility and difficult to comprehend, these practices are an integral part of African life. Included is a sampling of my storyteller photography to illustrate some of the unique spiritual practices seen in South Africa today.
A Sunday Service of the Zion Apostolic Independent Church in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Photograph: ©Steven Wade Adams, South Africa, 2024
The African Zion Church combines Christian beliefs with traditional African spiritual practice. Photograph: ©Steven Wade Adams, South Africa, 2024
When missionaries arrived in Africa, the local populations appeared receptive to the structure of Christianity. Still, given that traditional African beliefs were firmly embedded in the lives of Africans, a blended expression of religion emerged in the form of what is commonly referred to as African Zionism which is quite distinct from the belief system of the Zionist church found in the United States. Traditional shamanism and beliefs continues to play an important role in the Zion church. Congregants often engage in vibrant worship that includes music, dance, and the invocation of ancestral spirits, reflecting the shamanistic elements intertwined with their Christian faith. This amalgamation not only provides a sense of identity and belonging for its members but also highlights the resilience and adaptability of indigenous cultures in the face of colonial influences. Through this synthesis, the Zion Church became a space where both faith and traditional wisdom can coexist, offering holistic support to its followers.
Shamanic practice in South Africa is channeled through traditional sangomas, who currently provide a combination of what we might call fortune telling and traditional healing practices. To access information for their clients, the Sangomas utilize various tools, sometimes includes donning Christian robes and the reading of biblical scriptures.
Most famous of these tools is the “throwing of bones”. These “bones” can indeed be actual bones (such as from the crocodile), but are often also comprised of various shells, dice, dominos and miscellaneous other small objects. The manner in which these objects fall into patterns provide messages from the ancestors which allows the skilled practitioner to divine understanding and provide guidance.
Throwing "bones" is the ancient practice of divination practiced by the shaman of South Africa known as Sangomas. Note the hanging robe with Christian motifs. Photograph: ©Steven Wade Adams, South Africa, 2024
The ancestors of the sangoma dwell within these gourds. White cords denote female ancestors while colored cords indicate male ancestors. Photograph: ©Steven Wade Adams, South Africa, 2024
During our time in South Africa, our group was able to meet with and discuss the path taken by various practicing sangomas. Each shared varying levels of detail of their personal journeys which led to their sense of calling to practice shamanism. While there were differences, there was also many common elements. All shared an uncomfortable history of feeling out of place amongst others. They were sometime confused about their sense of place, often had challenges in maintaining work and even told of confusion regarding their sexual identities. They all spoke of their sacred “calling” and found solace in the practice of Shamanism which provided purpose and meaning to their lives. People sometimes come from far away to consult with and benefit from these wise and intuitive advisors. Almost always this involves summoning and consultation with ones ancestors, who play important roles in watching over us and providing guidance through the challenges of mortal life.
In addition to the throwing of bones, sangomas often use other tools such rattles, drums, candles, fly whisks made from the tail of a wildebeest and sometimes animal sacrifice. Sangomas are especially skilled at placing themselves in a trance, another means of facilitating direct communication with the ancestors. Ancestors are believed to maintain a connection between the living and the spiritual realm, helping to navigate the challenges of life and offering insight into personal and communal well-being. This relationship underscores the significance of lineage and heritage within many South African communities, fostering a sense of identity and continuity. One sangoma we visited explained to us the critical messages they constantly receive from their ancestors who dwell in the gourds shown here. This particular sangoma was born female, but shared with us that for many years struggled with their own gender identity. They are confident that they have been visited and guided more by male ancestors than female (although not exclusively) and they now identify as more male than female.
Regardless of individual differences, the Sangoma are numerous and integral to the communities they serve, offering not only medicinal remedies but also emotional and spiritual support. References to their support of mental health was frequently mentioned. This role is deeply rooted in cultural beliefs and practices that emphasize the interconnectedness of health, spirituality, and community. Sangomas utilize a variety of methods, including prayer, divination, ancestral communication and traditional healing, to address both physical ailments and social issues, helping to foster a sense of belonging and continuity in a rapidly changing world. Their presence is a vital aspect of cultural heritage, providing a framework for understanding health and humanity that resonates with many South Africans.
Cultural Photography and Ritualized Spiritual Cleansing in South Africa
The sangoma summons the ancestral spirits during a consultation. The fly whip made from wildebeest tail is a common spiritual tool. Photograph: ©Steven Wade Adams, South Africa, 2024
On this trip to South Africa our group met with a total of 5 Sangomas over a two week period. During these various encounters, we individually and collectively consulted with and were provided guidance from these traditional healers for some of our most pressing and personal issues. We all kept an open mind and engaged with these interesting people on their terms. The range of experience and their individual personalities varied considerably, but all are respected as valued and important members of their communities.
One more advanced ritual of traditional healing commonly practiced in South Africa is traditional spiritual cleansing. This can be performed to address a variety of ailments, but the basis of the practice is to appease one’s ancestors and allow removal of whatever blockage may be holding you back in various ways. There have certainly been foreigners who have previously consulted with a sangoma in South Africa and undergone some form of spiritual cleansing, but this experience was entirely unknown and new to our group.
Our expedition leader, Nevada, had a prior experience with the traditional healer back in 2018. During this encounter, she had been warned that she was neglecting her deceased grandmother and this should be urgently rectified so that greater ancestral protection could be provided. It was further explained that this was becoming especially important as Nevada is becomes older as her grandmother is the ancestor responsible for managing her luck. The sangoma advised Nevada to throw some specific herbs into her fireplace when she returned home, which she did.
As we engaged with the various sangomas in 2024, there were immediate and repeated references made to a relationship between a grandmother and a granddaughter involving “luck” that required immediate attention. Nevada knew immediately the sangomas were speaking directly to her. One of these sangoma’s advised the need for a white bracelet. That certainly seemed simple and straight-forward enough and Nevada quickly obliged. Any sense of resolution didn’t last long however as the very next sangoma consulted was unconvinced this remedy had gone far enough. This sangoma, known as Josephine (photo above), advised that Nevada’s aggrieved ancestral spirit could only be appeased through a traditional spiritual cleansing ritual. Nevada agreed this must be resolved before leaving South Africa where there is access to traditional practitioners skilled in the art. “OK, I’m in” our companion quickly declared. Arrangements were then quickly made for Nevada to return alone that evening with a towel. Scant other details were provided except that the process was going to involve a chicken and a wisk. Because of the spiritual and personal nature of the ritual, photography was not allowed, although we had been able to photograph Josephine extensively in her environs while she explained her craft. Later that evening the group would receive a detailed report of the ritual and the final guidance provided.
Chickens play an important role in spiritual cleansing rituals. Photograph: ©Steven Wade Adams, South Africa, 2024
When she returned to the sangoma that evening, Nevada was first seated in the sangoma’s hut where the three of them (Nevada, Josephine and the chicken) waited in anticipation. The sangoma asked Nevada to disrobe and sit on floor wrapped with the towel, Various incantations and zealous summoning of spirits ensued. The sangoma then grabbed the chicken and began stroking it gently. Once the bird fell into a deep torpid state, with a quick twist and certain swipe of a blade, the chicken took its last breath. Just as deftly, the Sangoma collected the chickens blood into a waiting bowl.
Barefoot and still wrapped in only a towel, Nevada followed the sangoma outside across an open field and into the forest. Josephine brought along the bowl of chicken blood, the dead chicken and a large metal pan of water which she then used to dilute the chicken blood. Nevada was then instructed to straddle a hole that had earlier been dug in the ground and to splash the diluted chicken blood across the front side of her body. While continuing her incantations, Josephine poured what was left of the blood over our companion’s back before engaging in a spirited brushing of the chicken carcus against Nevadas entire naked body.
Josephine then led Nevada back to her spiritual chambers where she was instructed to sit with her feet towards the burning candles. The sangoma then donned latex gloves and prepared additional materials before using a razor blade to make shallow symmetrical cuts in Nevada’s naked skin; two on the top of each foot, two on each lower forearm and 3 symmetrical cuts on both sides of her back near the wing of her shoulders. Josephine then rubbed a mixture of herbs and extracts into the open wounds. Finally, Nevada was provided with additional mixtures to eat from her right hand and sniff from her left, before being briskly struck with the whip made of a wildebeest tail.
The sangoma requested the agreed upon payment for her services to be placed in special tray which were then prayed over. Nevada was then instructed to take a bracelet of white and yellow beads that should not be removed - or at a minimum be kept near where she sleeps. Our friend was then finally instructed to put on her clothes but warned not to shower or remove the materials from her body until the following day. The sangoma then dispensed an herb with the scent of anise that Nevada was to chew and spit out after her arrival back home. Josephine assured her that if her instructions were followed completely, this would provide her dead grandmother all that was required and allow her luck and protection to continue to flow unimpeded. Not being able to imagine what might constitute a more aggressive therapy, our entire group expressed our sincerest hope that this cleansing will in fact be sufficient.
What happened to the remains of the chicken? This was not clear, but others that have consulted sangomas for cleansing rituals say that the chicken is buried in the hole and must not be returned to, as it now holds the bad energy from the body that has since been cleansed.