out of focus, blurry, colorful and very contrasted portrait of a healer from South Africa by Thom Pierce

Sangoma A photography project by Thom Pierce

‘Sangoma’ is the name given to traditional healers who play an important role within many different sections of South African society. In rural communities they are many people’s first port of call in times of need and illness.

Through a combination of prayer, dance and medicine (Muti), Sangoma’s contact the ancestors for advice and prescribe natural remedies for illness, good fortune and physical improvement. To become a Sangoma is not simple. Chosen by their ancestors, the training and initiation can be long and arduous. The work is an emotional and physical commitment which, combined with western medicine, forms part of many people’s healthcare choices.

In recent years, Sangoma’s and institutions of western medicine have frequently worked together to define their separate roles and acknowledge the importance of each other within modern South African society. Sangoma’s are accepted in several denominations of the christian church, their diverse rituals and attire can be informed by their varying ethnicity and religious affiliation.

Call for entries

black and white street photo of man being shaved on the street in China by Jian Wang
© Jian Wang
2025 Street Photography AWARD

Win $2700 Cash Awards & International Exposure

This September, we’re challenging you to capture powerful and inspiring urban stories. Acclaimed Magnum photographer Bruce Gilden will be judging the entries, and we’re excited to see your most compelling images.

 

  • Win $2700 in Cash Prizes
  • International Exhibition
  • +920k Instagram Feature
  • Free Online Portfolio

Recent Articles

More Articles

Privacy Overview
The Independent Photographer

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website or helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

3rd Party Cookies

We use third-party cookies, including tools like Google Analytics and Meta Pixel, to help us understand how visitors interact with our website. These cookies may track your activity across other websites and are used for analytics, performance monitoring, and advertising purposes.

Enabling these cookies helps us improve your experience and provide relevant offers and content. You can opt out at any time via the cookie settings.