Kwenzekile Mngoma had a life of beautiful clothes, manicures and expensive sunglasses all mapped out for herself, but her ancestors were determined she should heed their call to become a sangoma. Nosipho Mngoma spoke to her about her journey into the heart of Zulu culture
Kwenzekile Mngoma is as comfortable with foundation on her face as she is with ibomvu, a red clay/soil paste smeared on the face by amathwasa (traditional healers in training).
“I have learnt to accept myself and am proud to be a glamorous sangoma,” she says.
Born in rural Mzinyathi in Inanda, the 28-year-old said she tried to ignore the ancestors calling for her to be a sangoma for years.
“My mom was a domestic worker, so I spent a lot of time with her employers in Musgrave and went to multiracial schools. But, when there were rituals at home, it was hard to even explain isiphandla (goat skin worn on the wrist after a traditional ceremony) to my friends at school.”
Even with the calling “running in the family”, and her having dreams that came true from a young age, she didn’t take the calling seriously.
“My mom brought me up Christian and did not like the idea. If my mom didn’t support it, I was not going to go for it.” Mngoma said.
Instead she wanted to be an air hostess, so she could travel the world but more especially because she admired their “prim and proper” well manicured look.
“I have always loved fashion. I admired people like Naomi Campbell and Tyra Banks, that’s why I make sure my outfits are always on point,” she said.
Mngoma ignored her visions, headaches, swollen eyes and occasional deafness. “The illnesses would come and go. It affected my school work but I would suddenly be well again and pick up my performance.”
Even when she started working at a bank, she suffered manic episodes when she would scream uncontrollably, keeling over with abdominal pains.
“My colleagues would call an ambulance but in hospital, doctors would find nothing.”
She was forced to resign and started selling imported weaves (hair extensions).
“I was all about that life – expensive weaves, nails, eyelash extensions and make-up. I was living a glamorous life and happily engaged. Then the ancestors took it all away,” Mngoma said.
She believes that for not accepting her calling, her engagement fell apart and her life and health took a turn for the worse.
“There was nothing medically wrong with me but I was sick. I would hear drums where there were no drums. One day I started screaming again but this time actually walked out of the house. My family followed me and we got into a car which I directed to a house in Etsheni Elimnyama.”
Mngoma does not recall the day and was told by her family that she had directed them to a house near Pinetown.
“When I got there, my Gobela (spiritual mother/trainer) was expecting me and knew everything about me. She had dreamed of my arrival.”
Mngoma started ukuthwasa, (training) which she describes as one of the most difficult three months of her life.
“I grew up in Inanda and my mom taught me how to do chores but having to bath only in cold water, sleeping on the floor, waking at 3am to go to the river and walking in a forest to learn about and collect plants used in muti was difficult. I had never been exposed to such a hard life,” she said.
Mngoma jokes that she still has the marks from “sitting” on her knees as was required of trainees. “I could not sit on my bum, I was not allowed to stand in the house, I did everything on my knees.”
Once the ancestors were satisfied, Mngoma “graduated” and now consults. “It is absolutely amazing that someone can just come in and after burning impepho (incense) the ancestors start speaking to me and I know what the person’s problem is. The impact on people’s lives, being able to help or heal them, makes it all worth it, I wish I had answered the calling of my ancestors a long time ago,” she said.
Mngoma has learnt to compromise and believes the ancestors don’t change who you are. “I have to have natural hair so I have dreadlocks but I wear a lace wig on top of it. I don’t wear eyelash extensions anymore but I wear make-up and still do my nails.”
Mngoma has also kept her designer labels ensuring always to look and act in a respectful manner. And, as a sangoma, she always wears her beaded wrist band. “Without it I feel weak, so I wear my beads with my bangles.” With red being an important colour in the spiritual world, Mngoma is on trend with red lipstick, her favourite being Mac Ruby Woo.
“I don’t have a multimillion-rand wardrobe but I like to look good. I haven’t changed. I may have lost people I considered friends because they judge me and are afraid of me being a sangoma. I have no hard feelings towards them, I would have probably done the same thing in their shoes.”
Mngoma will continue her training to reach a heightened level of connection with the ancestors allowing her to heal in different ways; with prayer and holy water. “We do believe in God; it’s just that people have painted anything traditional as wrong or incorrect.”
Having embraced her calling, she is working on incorporating her “two worlds” by establishing a fashion line which will feature traditional sangoma attire in a glamorous way.
“Being a sangoma does not mean you can’t be classy and elegant. Your life does not stop.”
Mngoma said she admired Isidingo actress Latoya Kekana, who is also a sangoma.
“She inspires me, she has a glitzy career acting and singing and is also proud of her calling. I want to inspire others, especially young girls, who are afraid of their calling. It doesn’t change you, it’s a different and fulfilling part of who you are. The ancestors don’t work against you, they work through you and if you embrace them, they will bless you.”