HERU

Ubungoma on Reality TV Shows 

In August TshisaLIVE published a series focusing on #SangomasBecomingCelebrities.

Dr Zukiswa Mvoko (Mkhulu Majola) of the African National Healers’ Association says, the gift of ubungoma has been taken lightly, adding that drawing attention to tradition healing on television is unnecessary.

Speaking to TshisaLIVE about the myriad ubungoma content on channels such as Moja Love and Mzansi Magic, Mkhulu Majola said the shows jeopardise authenticity. 

“I’m not happy with the way media has broadcast the lives of sangomas. It reflects negatively on the originality of ubungoma and African healers at large. It is causing more confusion and more segregation among us as blacks, and those who are finding their way or themselves and who they are with regards to [their] spirituality.

“We need to understand the objective. Why, all of sudden, does the media want to come to us and say, ‘Please come forth and tell us what sangomas do’.”

In a separate interview, reality TV star and sangoma Makgotso Lee-Ann Mokopo, popularly known as Gogo Maweni and who is among the “new age” healers who share topics related to ubungoma,  said she would not back down.

“I’m annoying some people and when you start annoying people it means you are getting to where you want to go. People must acknowledge who you are as a spirit and me being me.”