Meaning of isangoma | Babel Free

Definitions

Synonym of sangoma.

Examples

“In this The Story of the Zulus, p. 80, Mr. Gibson translates izangoma 'witch-doctors'. [...] Father Bryant adds that inyanga is 'another title' of the isangoma. The vague use⟳ of the English word 'witch-doctor' may be responsible for these confusions.”

“The isangoma is a medicine man whose medicine has magical rather than pharmaceutical value. The diviners are the only people who regularly pray to the spirits and sing⟳ hymns to them. [...] The continuous threat of the community by visible, negative and destructive forces of life make⟳ the function of the isangoma an essential one.”

“Isangomas had been previously exempt from military service since their work⟳ with powerful and dangerous muthi could affect⟳ ordinary soldiers. [...] An isangoma-only regiment allowed the king to keep⟳ a close⟳ eye on problematic isangomas as well as acquire⟳ their labour and attempt⟳ to stem the tide of men avoiding military service. This ibutho of isangomas, however, did not fight⟳ in wars but did tend⟳ to the king's gardens, mend⟳ fences, and perform⟳ other work⟳ of the king's regiments.”

“Izangoma specialize in combinations of plants used with sounds, song, dance⟳, trance, evocation and enactment, all of which work⟳ toward modifications of the complexities of bodily configurations through various manipulations and intensively staged circumstances.”

CEFR level