Basically a Sangoma is born whilst an Inyanga is trained to be one. Izangoma are able to communicate with ancestors through various different gifts that each one has been born with. In addition, iZangoma serve as dream interpreters able to assist those who have visions to decipher these and explain them. Dreams are an important communication tool used by our ancestors to pass on messages.

Izinyanga are trained through apprenticeship to be healers using imithi. In most case you train under an iNyanga called ukuphata izikwama zenyanga. In the old days an Inyanga would look at his family and identify the child showing the most promise and interest in medicines. This person could also be identified through dreams. This person would become an assistant of sorts and in time would be taught the art of healing disease. Today it is possible to buy a book from an established inyanga which contains all the medicines of iNyanga. You still need to be trained in the correct preparation methods and the correct dosages.

Some iZangoma though have an ancestor who was an iNyanga who will then guide and teach the Sangoma on the various remedies that he used whilst alive. This is not the case for every Sangoma, but if you find an iNyanga who is willing, then as a Sangoma you can be apprenticed to an iNyanga and they then pass on their knowledge.

My greatest knowledge as an iNyaga comes from the time spent with uGogo uMaNdlovu who is a well respected Sangoma and Inyanga. She gets her gift of imithi from her maternal grandfather uZondo. It is under her that I have been learning for the past 8 years. This has been the most valuable and fulfilling learning in my life. And it’s a pity that it’s nearing its natural end. The gift of imithi comes naturally to me though because of my own inheritance from both my maternal and paternal sides of the family. This has allowed me to develop a strong focus in all types of natural medicines.