While visiting the Sangoma,the young girls did a few traditional dances for us. None of these dances are for consulting the dead, they are just part of tradition. Kelly and I wanted to learn how they danced like that and so we pulled a few of the girls off to the side to ask. They began to show us and within 20 seconds the drum was going and everyone was singing and circling us. I guess it wasn't as off to the side as we were hoping. Oh well! Hope you enjoy!
The people were so excited to see us trying. They dressed us in the traditional outfit, with a grass skirt, beaded headband, and beaded necklace.
In Basotho culture, young girls were a grass skirt until they hit puberty. They then receive an animal skin over top of the grass skirt. Once they are married, they receive another skin that covers their chest and back.
This past weekend, staff and interns visited a local Sangoma, a traditional healer, to learn more about the Basotho religious beliefs. I learned so much during the short time I was there.
The head Sangoma took us into her "healing hut" and told us a little about what she does to heal people. Apparently there are two kinds of Sangomas in the Basotho culture. One that reads bones to consult the dead and another that dances to music to consult the dead. The dancing Sangomas usually go up to the top of a mountain and go into a trance as the "ancestors" speak to them. The Sangoma that we spoke to is a dancing one.
Her outfit is very precise. She only wears what the ancestors tell her to wear. On her back she has a goat skin that she ties around her neck. She explained that when she was about 19 she became very ill and went to a Sangoma to be healed. According to her, the ancestors would let her live only if she gave her life to becoming a Sangoma. Sadly, she traded her soul to live. To complete her healing, she had to sacrifice a goat and drink its blood. The goat skin on her back is the same goat that she sacrificed some 40-50 years ago. Later on, the ancestors told her she must attach a snake skin to the back of the goat skin. As she was describing this, it seemed so appropriate to me that she was to attach a snake's skin instead of something else. "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you" (Luke10:19).
It breaks my heart to know how much of a hold Satan has on her; how much fear and darkness she lives in. If she could only see the light and how much freedom and peace it brings!
Do you want to be part of what God is doing here in South Africa, but are not able to come at this time? You can donate to help me stay here and disciple the Basotho. You can donate online or by check. If you donate by check please make checks payable to Covenant Global Evangelism and mark Cassie Phillips clearly on the memo line. You can then send check to the following address:
Covenant Global Evangelism | PO Box 367 | Eaton, OH 45320
