Reality TV star and traditional healer Phelo Bala has been fiercely private about his ancestral calling with some only finding out this year that he has trained after he posted a picture on his Instagram.
Viewers of the reality show The Bala Family had a glimpse of that part of his life, which he has kept from the public for years, after a ceremony aired on the show.
In the episode Mzansi had a chance to see the family dynamics when it came to Phelo's ancestral journey including what seemed like a dilemma with his mother who is a devout Christian.
“My mom doesn't have an issue, she supports me. She tries to be there as much as she can, I mean she was at my wedding. She tries where she can. It's important for people to be themselves and we should respect that. I cannot force people to be there and for me. I think there should be boundaries so that people who are going to be there do not feel pressure to. Yes, they may learn and get to know about who you are, so you get to live your life. I try to not get hurt by it, by someone who doesn't want to support me,” he said.
He told TshisaLIVE he embraced his calling nine years ago, a little scared and unsure of the road that lay ahead.
Phelo acknowledged he needed a mentor when he began his ancestral journey.
“I didn't know anything. On top of it I was in the gospel space and for me I think it was a lot to do with the fact that I was mainly confused as to what was going on. Before even consulting, things were really tough and so when I got into that space I really think I didn't have a choice. I did not know at the time things I know now. Certainly now people know they can go and phahla and they (ancestors) sort of back off slightly. Not that you are really not called but uyakwazi ukuzicengela, whereas I didn't know then.
He explained the process is followed to give families and the one with the calling time, so that a decision to be initiated is not taken lightly.
“Because when you do that (ukuzicengela) it's because you don't have to rush into anything because you are scared. Some people go to rivers to speak to their ancestors on behalf of their patient and that allows and buys the person time ....”
Phelo said he was grateful to be in a position where he is continuously learning.
“When I started I knew absolutely nothing about anything, especially when it came to ubungoma or ubuqhira. I think the more I embark on this journey the more I learn. It's that kind of journey where you learn as you go and you can only see that you are doing the right things when you see a positive outcome.”
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'I didn't know anything' — Phelo Bala opens up about his ancestral journey
Image: Instagram/ Phelo Bala
Reality TV star and traditional healer Phelo Bala has been fiercely private about his ancestral calling with some only finding out this year that he has trained after he posted a picture on his Instagram.
Viewers of the reality show The Bala Family had a glimpse of that part of his life, which he has kept from the public for years, after a ceremony aired on the show.
In the episode Mzansi had a chance to see the family dynamics when it came to Phelo's ancestral journey including what seemed like a dilemma with his mother who is a devout Christian.
“My mom doesn't have an issue, she supports me. She tries to be there as much as she can, I mean she was at my wedding. She tries where she can. It's important for people to be themselves and we should respect that. I cannot force people to be there and for me. I think there should be boundaries so that people who are going to be there do not feel pressure to. Yes, they may learn and get to know about who you are, so you get to live your life. I try to not get hurt by it, by someone who doesn't want to support me,” he said.
He told TshisaLIVE he embraced his calling nine years ago, a little scared and unsure of the road that lay ahead.
Phelo acknowledged he needed a mentor when he began his ancestral journey.
“I didn't know anything. On top of it I was in the gospel space and for me I think it was a lot to do with the fact that I was mainly confused as to what was going on. Before even consulting, things were really tough and so when I got into that space I really think I didn't have a choice. I did not know at the time things I know now. Certainly now people know they can go and phahla and they (ancestors) sort of back off slightly. Not that you are really not called but uyakwazi ukuzicengela, whereas I didn't know then.
He explained the process is followed to give families and the one with the calling time, so that a decision to be initiated is not taken lightly.
“Because when you do that (ukuzicengela) it's because you don't have to rush into anything because you are scared. Some people go to rivers to speak to their ancestors on behalf of their patient and that allows and buys the person time ....”
Phelo said he was grateful to be in a position where he is continuously learning.
“When I started I knew absolutely nothing about anything, especially when it came to ubungoma or ubuqhira. I think the more I embark on this journey the more I learn. It's that kind of journey where you learn as you go and you can only see that you are doing the right things when you see a positive outcome.”
Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. Just R20 for the first month.
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