Television star Boity Thulo got people talking with her choice of outfit last Friday after the club 808 presenter rocked the sangoma outfit on her e.tv music show Club 808 few days ago.
According to Sowetan the outfit, which was worn as part of African month, is sacred and only worn by initiates and inyangas..
Sheila Mbele-Khama, commissioner at the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Riligious and Linguistic Communities (CRL), told the publication that although they didn’t receive any complaints, Boity should not have worn the beads for fashion or events outside the practice.
“We are not allowed to pass on beads. It’s like one’s medication. The neck beads she has on are for qualified Ndau and Mnguni initiates. There is a specific medicine inside them and they are worn only after graduation,” she said.
She explained that the white beads on Boity’s wrists symbolise someone with a calling and still searching for a path to travel. They serve as acknowledgement of the gift and assist to lessen the suffering. There is a specific rite or ritual that goes with these beads and a code of conduct attached to them.”
Mbele-Khama said the Big 5 kanga had no specific sacred significance and it could be worn by any healer at any time. The same applied to the headgear.
The beads are of a graduated healer, whether in or outside ephehlweni (at initiation).
Traditional Healers’ Organisation national coordinator Phephsile Maseko advised to check Thulo’s journey. “What if she is undergoing training to become a sangoma or inyanga? There is a sacred period that one undergoes in training, and that is the first two months, which is important because it’s all about finding yourself spiritually.
“During that period, one is not allowed to talk about their journey. There is nothing wrong if Thulo is going to be a sangoma. There are many celebrities who are sangomas,” Maseko said.
Thulo shared her picture in the garb on Instagram and wrote (in part): “. tonight I’m rocking my Kumkanikazi Dabulamanzi attire… #ThokozaGogo#OwnYourThrone.”