S
mangele Dlamini, is a 25 year old Sangoma. She was born and raised in KwaMashu, Durban. She was raised by her two very loving parents and her grandmother. She grew up with her three siblings at her home. Gogo Odusheni, which is her Sangoma name is a two time degree holder at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She attained her qualifications in Criminal Forensic Investigations. She also has a Bachelor of Arts Honours in International Relations. Currently, she is pursuing her Masters in Social Policy, and her Masters Research is based on investigating Policies for Traditional Healers. The title of her research is; Examining the Traditional Health Practitioners Act (Act No.22 of 2007) in Promoting Traditional Healing Practices within the South African Healthcare System and for opportunities for Policy Development).
Growing up, she and her siblings were encouraged by their father to pursue their dreams and to be ambitious. This as her parents were never afforded the opportunity to be educated and her mother was a Sangoma and a Herbalist from a young age. Gogo Odusheni, was relentless in chasing her dream of becoming someone and making something of herself, regardless of her background. Or the stigma attached to young people coming from townships. That they amount to nothing or that they end up abusing substances or having numerous children if they don’t end up as criminals. Gogo, and her parents knew from her early childhood that she had a Sangoma calling. Her signs were all too many, ranging from her visions to vivid dreams. It didn’t help that she was also exposed to Ubungoma while her mother and grandmother practiced as diviners and herbalists.
She would look closely at how herbs were mixed or how clients were consulted. Though she only initiated while completing her second degree, Gogo Odusheni was already well equipped for becoming a Sangoma with all her knowledge and the information she had growing up.
Today, Gogo, is a fully initiated Sangoma who is completing her Masters Degree.
Gogo Odusheni, is passionate about building a solid career for herself. Growing up, she wished for nothing else but to make her parents proud. She was also a very bright and motivated child. Needless to say that her Sangoma calling was never going to come between her and her academics. It was while she was completing her second degree that Gogo Odusheni had to initiate to become a Sangoma. Perhaps there is a lesson to learn here that just because one has a Sangoma calling, it doesn’t mean that their lives should come to a complete stop. Gogo Odusheni said that Ubungoma shouldn’t destroy a child’s dream and that parents should perform rituals to plead with their child’s Ancestors to allow them the opportunity to get a proper education and to build a career for themselves. Yes, one can acknowledge their calling and the communication from their Ancestors as a way of showing their commitment to their spiritual calling. However, it doesn’t mean that their childhood or academics need to be disrupted. According to the agreement or promise made to the child’s Ancestors, they can always initiate at a later stage.
There is so much responsibility towards being a Sangoma that a child or a teenager cannot comprehend. There are also rules and regulations that they have to operate under and initiating as a child would not only take their childhood away from them or interrupt their schooling career. It would also burden them with all the responsibilities of being a Sangoma. Little wonder as to why so many parents are hesitant to allow their children to go into Sangoma initiation. and others seek for an ‘easier’ path.
“Being a Healer is not easy it is a very difficult journey and social media makes it look so very easy. It is not an overnight success, you need to be a multi-tasker who is able to wear many hats and someone who is a fighter.” Gogo Odusheni said that while growing up she did have Sangoma dreams and her mother would interprete her dreams for her. Her mother was reluctant to let any of her children to initiate to become Sangoma’s because she knew all too well what the journey intailed. It was after she completed her first degree, and graduating that she fell ill. She said that she was relaxing at home with her family while watching TV. Her Ancestors were suddenly invoked, they spoke through her and
demanded that her parents send her to a particular Gobela to initiate her. She had been falling ill during her first degree but she fought until she was able to complete. After she had been falling ill regularly while still at school as a young child, her parents performed a ceremony for her to plead with her Ancestors to allow her to complete her schooling. Gogo Odusheni says she understands. Why most parents are reluctant to allow their children to go into initiation and that there have been growing reports of fake Gobela’s who scam people. However, she advises that parents should always speak to Ancestors through ukuphahla (burning sage) to plead with them to guide their child to their assigned Gobela and to protect them from scammers.She also spoke on Sangoma’s who charge clients exorbitant fees to help them. She says that we cannot stop how each Sangoma chooses to work., but it’s shocking that Sangoma’s are making money by over charging clients.