Sangoma

This can have two related meanings in South Africa,

Firstly it may refer to someone with psychic and prophetic powers, a practitioner of ceremonial magic, utilizing a system of occult techniques for healing and spiritual development in an individual and/or community, and to promote social cohesion. In this sense the witch doctor was a revered, powerful and influential member of society, in the same way a court magician or shaman may have been in other cultures.

Secondly, and more commonly today, this refers to a herbalist and traditional African healer, who may or may not also have psychic and prophetic powers. In this sense often referred to as a Witch doctor in colonial writings and culture, and not always in a positive sense in the more sensational writing.

See also Shaman and Magician.

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_(illusion)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magician

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamanism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangoma

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch_doctor

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