A sangoma speaks with her teacher Lucy Thembani during an initiation ceremony. The initiates had 6 months of intense training - learning about traditional herbal medicine, divination, counseling and performing humbling service in the community. Sangomas are an essential thread in the rich cultural fabric of South Africa. Traditional healing has a long history in Africa, with an estimated 200,000 traditional healers in South Africa alone. Often tribal people will use them as their first port of call instead of seeking medical attention.
