From witchcraft to polyamorous lives — These sangomas made headlines in 2022

Traditional healers who live their lives in the open and share parts of their lives that have otherwise been known to be kept sacred became the subject of many headlines in 2022.

The sangomas in the list below have either joined the reality TV space or openly embraced social media and became vocally active. 

Here's a list of a traditional healers who made headlines in 2022

Dr Maweni/Gogo Maweni

Makgotso Lee-Anne Mokopo, popularly known by the names listed above and of Izangoma Zodumo fame, charted the Twitter trends a lot in 2022 and has been unfazed by social media critics.

The reality TV star and real life sangoma was questioned for her authenticity as a traditional healer, especially since she is  seemingly proud of the dark side of her power.

However, the sangoma was not moved by naysayers and stood her ground, saying  "there's no such things as bad publicity".

“I'm not losing anything. Instead, I'm gaining so keep talking. If you've never spent five minutes with me, you don't know who I am [and] you believe whatever people are saying about me, which is OK.

“It's funny, I always say that while on Twitter, people will talk bad about me but when I walk the streets, everybody wants to take a picture and I ask myself who are these people talking bad about me but that is what drives me — the bad comments,” she told TshisaLIVE.

Gogo Skhotheni

Patricia Motsoeneng, popularly known as Gogo Skhotheni, is unashamedly living her truth as a sangoma and doing things the unconventional way. 

The traditional healer, who appears on Moja Love’s Dlozi Lam, Gogo Skhotheni  and Mzansi Magic’s iZangoma Zodumo, caused an uproar on social media when she revealed she had taken up a second husband after her ancestors instructed her to do so. 

While facing a backlash on social media, she said though she knows her arrangement is unusual, she is up for the challenge.

“I've asked [my ancestors] about another thing I can do besides this, but clearly it's not working out because they keep telling me the same thing. 

“I thought, why not? Why I can't I accept this as well? Even if it's bizarre to some people I will just do it. I know it won’t make sense, but as long as it makes sense to me, why should it make sense to people who won't live that life,” she told TshisaLIVE

Mpho Wabadimo

Big Brother Mzansi winner Michelle “Mpho wa Badimo” Mvundla opened up about experiences on the reality show.

She said there were certain things she could not do in the house as a “child of the ancestors”.

She was part of the Castle Milk Stout Ancestors' Day panel discussion and spoke about her experience in the Big Brother house.

The star's fans often defended her against housemates who mocked her spirituality and she trended every week as a result.

“I really believe it was not by coincidence. I went there to represent a black child who walks with elders. I had to protect the sacredness of the community I stand for.

“There so many things I couldn't do, like burning incense. Even me taking snuff on the show was looked at as something dirty, and it was also our own black youth who were saying those things. It was very sad to hear.

“I went in there to show people African spirituality is freedom. It will not box you or cage you as long as you know who you stand for. If we do not want to believe what we are, then I believe we shouldn't walk around with our surnames. We should use our names,” she said.