iNtfwasa initiation Part 4, Swaziland

"iNkane or iNtfwasa, the ceremony where a "Sangoma" (sometimes called "witchdoctor") qualifies in Swaziland." After the "dead" ematfwasa (candidates Sangoma) have been brought back to the village they are revived by the "bogobela", the senior tangoma by brushing a "sizinga", a special brush made from the bone of a gnu (wildebeest) and doctored to have special powers. The candidates the are each given one of those "sizinga" brushes and put on a kind of harness, named "umfembi" which contains, among other things, the nose of a hyena, believed to have superior smelling power; this helps them to "smell out" evil spirits that may reside in a person's body. They are guided to the village people, who sit and have to undergo this kufemba" or "smelling out" ritual. The candidates can then "sneeze out" those spirits when found. Sometimes the candidates, in a trance, physically attack the bearer of those spirits and have then to be restrained by their guides. They later will have to undergo this "kufemba" ritual to rid themselves of evil spirits. As a final act they drink again special "umuti", medicine, and vomit it out again to cleanse and purify themselves.
These scenes were recorded with an old 8 mm camera (without sound) 12 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. 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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• Swaziland
• Africa
• dance
• culture
• African
• dancing
• tradition
• initiation
• ceremony
• witchdoctor
• spirits