Ukuthwasa

This article is about South African Culture-bound syndrome. For South African term for bride kidnapping, see Ukuthwalwa.

iThwasa after drinking the blood of a goat at a sangoma initiation (Ukuthwasa) ceremony

Ukuthwasa is a Southern African culture-bound syndrome[1][2] associated with the calling and the initiation process to become a sangoma, a type of traditional healer. In the cultural context of traditional healers in Southern Africa, the journey of ukuthwasa (or intwaso) involves a spiritual process marked by rituals, teachings, and preparations. It begins with a calling, idlozi, from ancestors, often received through dreams or altered states of consciousness. Initiates, known as ithwasane or ithwasa, undergo formal training under a mentor, gobela, which can last months to years. Ukuthwasa process entails physical, psychological, and spiritual manifestations, which are believed to cleanse and prepare the initiate. The term ukuthwasa, meaning "come out" or "be reborn," signifies the transformative nature of the experience. Both men and women can become traditional healers through this calling.

In the community of traditional healers, Ukuthwasa is perceived to hold cultural and spiritual significance, preserving traditions, and bridging the human and spirit worlds. However, the process can lead to intense psychosocial and mental health experiences, with some cases of disorders or fatalities. While ukuthwasa was historically stigmatised, it's increasingly respected and being integrated in the health system as outlined by the South African Traditional Health Practitioners Act 35 of 2004.[3] In addition, the initiation process has influenced literature, cinema, and popular culture, reflecting its importance in African societies.

Scientific studies revealed that ukuthwasa is associated with people having varying types of psychosis.[4][5][6] The coexistence of traditional practices like ukuthwasa and modern healthcare and education can pose challenges.

  1. ^ Niehaus, D.J.H.; Oosthuizen, P.; Lochner, C.; Emsley, R.A.; Jordaan, E.; Mbanga, N.I.; Keyter, N.; Laurent, C.; Deleuze, J.-F.; Stein, D.J. (14 May 2004). "A Culture-Bound Syndrome 'Amafufunyana' and a Culture-Specific Event 'Ukuthwasa': Differentiated by a Family History of Schizophrenia and other Psychiatric Disorders". Psychopathology. 37 (2): 59–63. doi:10.1159/000077579. ISSN 0254-4962. PMID 15057028. S2CID 23545601. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  2. ^ Helman, Cecil G. (26 January 2007). "Cross-Cultural Psychiatry". Culture, Health and Illness, Fifth edition. CRC Press. p. 269. ISBN 9781444113631. Archived from the original on 30 November 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
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  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Pearson2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Campbell, Megan M.; Sibeko, Goodman; Mall, Sumaya; Baldinger, Adam; Nagdee, Mohamed; Susser, Ezra; Stein, Dan J. (24 January 2017). "The content of delusions in a sample of South African Xhosa people with schizophrenia". BMC Psychiatry. 17 (1): 41. doi:10.1186/s12888-017-1196-3. ISSN 1471-244X. PMC 5259874. PMID 28118821.