iNtfwasa initiation Part 1, Swaziland

"iNkane or iNtfwasa, the ceremony where a "Sangoma" (sometimes called "witchdoctor") qualifies in Swaziland." LaMabuza, a kind lady, has a "school" for tangoma (plural of sangoma), media between the "emadloti" or ancestral spirits and the people, in her homestead of Bethany near Matsapha in central Swaziland. Once a year there is a ceremony where the candidates must prove their skills to get their qualifications. The two-day ceremony starts with the making of "umuti", traditional medicines, and while the drums are pounding, the "ematfwasa" or candidates are brought out, walking on their knees as a sign of submission to the spirits. The "bogobela" or senior tangoma then rub umuti in cuts made on their bodies. to make them strong. They then have a goat placed on their backs; its heart is pierced and the candidates have to drink its blood. They then have to drink that "umuti" medicine and vomit it out: this is a test of their sincerity, if the candidates had violated the taboos they had to follow during their training, it is believed the blood would clot inside them and they would die. The gallbladder of the goat is excised and candidates are anointed with gall, symbol of a new life. Later, the gallbladder, blown up like a small balloon, will be fastened in their hair. These scenes were recorded with an old 8 mm camera (without sound) 11 September 1973; sound, including my commentary, was added later from tape recordings I had made during the same ceremony in previous years and later filmed from a screen with an analogue video camera. The image and sound quality is therefore poor for which I apologise. The opening scene is in my native Dutch (translated above). For (better quality) photos of this ceremony go to http://worldpics.com.au/Africa/Swaziland/ and follow the link to Traditional Healers and from there "iNtwasa Sangoma Ceremony".

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Travel & Events

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• Swaziland
• Africa
• dance
• culture
• African
• dancing
• tradition
• initiation
• ceremony
• witchdoctor
• spirits