Sanele Shabalala
From the series Sangoma by Thom Pierce photographed in South Africa in 2017, this piece is available as part of the Studio 145 affordable art collection in a limited edition of 50.
All prints include a white border and are sized to fit in a standard A2 frame (420mm x 594mm).
Each piece is sold unframed, with an authenticity stamp on the back which includes the edition number.
Worldwide shipping is included in the price.
‘Sangoma’ is the name given to traditional healers who play an important role within many different sections of South African society. In rural communities, they are many people’s first port of call in times of need and illness. Through a combination of prayer, dance, and medicine (muti), Sangomas contact the ancestors for advice and prescribe natural remedies for illness, good fortune, and physical improvement. Becoming a Sangoma is not simple. Chosen by their ancestors, the training and initiation can be long and arduous. The work is an emotional and physical commitment that, combined with western medicine, forms part of many people’s healthcare choices.
In recent years, Sangomas and institutions of western medicine have frequently worked together to define their separate roles and acknowledge the importance of each other within modern South African society. Sangomas are accepted in several denominations of the Christian Church, their diverse rituals and attire can be informed by their varying ethnicity and religious affiliation.
