Ukuthwasa is discussed on Shift, SABC1 at 11am on Tuesday 4 February 2014.

Ukuthwasa refers to the process of emerging as a healer. This means to ‘come out’ or to be reborn. It is interpreted as a calling by the ancestors to become a healer.  

 The healers, in the service of the ancestors are knowledgeable about their wishes and needs. They understand and interpret their messages, which appear in the dreams of ordinary people; they are specialists in rituals and customs, which are required to communicate with the ancestors.

In the beginning stages it appears that most healers, who are called by the ancestors, suffer a ‘trouble’ which has numerous disruptive symptoms. The process and state are associated with characteristic signs; dreams, visions, psychic experiences, pains madness, leaving the homestead to live in the bush, and spontaneous immersion in a river pool.  The series of symptoms become persistent until the call is accepted however only a small percentage of those who are originally identified as having ukuthwasa eventually become qualified healers.

Once the call is accepted, the initiates undergo training to heal people. The duration of treatment is determined by the proficiency of the initiate to heal people. The period of training involves the novice living with a traditional healer for an extensive period of apprenticeship with formal tuition in techniques and practices. The final period is the period of probation during which novices must demonstrate their powers of divination, often through the discovery of hidden objects. Only then does the traditional healer license the novice to practice.

Shift seeks clarity and tries to address a lot of confusion regarding ukuthwasa and Traditional Healing in modern day times. This includes ukuthwasa; traditional obligation vs personal choice, myths and misconceptions, terminologies and good practices.

Our questions to you are:

·         Do you believe in traditional medicine and its healing powers

·         Do you believe that there are people who have the special ‘gift’ to be healers?

·         Have you ever had symptoms that are related to being called by your ancestors to be a healer or know someone who has?

Poll Question:

Ukuthwasa today - Is it a fashion or real? Answer Yes or No to …

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