Photos from Our World

The iNtfwasa initiation Ceremony in Swaziland (part 2)

The candidate tangoma (plural of "sangoma" or diviner) have dressed themselves in full regalia in the hut where they are staying and emerge, in a light trance, on the plaza where everyone sits down and large drums are pounded in the typical rhythm associated with the "emadloti" or ancestral spirits. They dance in a circle, brandishing short dancing sticks, and then jump up on one leg for a few beats. While this is going on, the candidates are led, one by one, to LaMabuza, their teacher, and two other "bogobela" or senior tangoma to do an examination in "kuphengula" or divining: the gall bladder of the goat that had been killed for them has been hidden and, by divination, where the candidate poses suggestions that always are answered with the same formula; somehow she divines where it is. She then jumps up, retrieves it and, as a sign of seniority, it is tied into her hair by one of the "bogobela".

Meanwhile, the drumming and dancing goes on and then it is a "free for all" where every sangoma does divination in this way with the people who sit on the side of the ground; whatever they say, it is always answered with "siyavuma" (we agree) but from the tone they can divine whether they are on the right track. Then, after a final dance, they retire for the night.

Continuing....

	Tangoma appear	Tangoma dancing	"Emadloti" dance	Divining examination
	Found gall bladder	Gall bladder in hair	"Kuphengula" exam	Graduation
	Male sangoma	Dancing tangoma	"Kuphengula"	Final dance

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