Dabulamafu is my Zulu name. It means to 'break through the clouds' or to 'bring clarity'. This is my amazing journey.
My long journey to become a Sangoma is as improbable as it is remarkable. In June of 1990, as a career diplomat, I coordinated Nelson Mandela's first visit to Canada. There was an immediate connection between us and by the end of the trip he asked Prime Minister Mulroney to allow me to accompany him on his historic tour of the United States.
By December of the same year, I was in South Africa working as a security aide to Mr. Mandela. Shortly after my arrival, he arranged for me to meet his Sangoma, Dr (T) Horatio Zungu. Our first visit was a revelation and he quickly agreed to become my Gobela or teacher. For two years, he trained me in the use of the bones and the many herbal remedies.
Read more about Gary's first experiences with Mandela in the Toronto Star, June 2013
Even after I left South Africa for my work, I returned frequently to see Mandela and to visit Zungu. They both agreed that I had a special calling and that the ancestors were very strong in me. The last time that I saw Zungu was during Nelson Mandela's funeral in December of 2013.
The Zulu people believe that it is dangerous to ignore the calling to be a Sangoma. Those who do so may anger the ancestors and suffer bad luck, illness or even death. The first two consequences were certainly my experience. After I was diagnosed with Stage 4 terminal cancer in November 2022, I decided that it was a sign that I had to finish my training. Almost thirty years had passed and Zungu had died in 2020. I would need to find another Gobela. Not an easy task.
I put my trust in my ancestors and headed to KwaZulu Natal, near where Zungu lived in his youth. It was important to continue my training in the Zulu tradition. Within a week, I met a gifted Sangoma who agreed to be my Gobela.
The Impossible Task
Even for a black South African who speaks fluent isiZulu, the road to becoming a Sangoma is long and arduous. For many it can take years. As a white Canadian with only a smattering of the language, it seemed a near impossible task. Luckily, I already had a head start.
My new Gobela, Censo Ngubane, agreed that there would be many challenges. However within weeks of my initiation, it became obvious to both of us that many of the skills I had learned from Zungu were still very present. My ability to read the bones was so great that I quickly earned the nickname, Mr Mthambo or Mister Bones. His clients were amazed that a white person could communicate so effortlessly with the ancestors.
My graduation was like a dream and deeply emotional. I was given the Zulu name, Dabulamafu, which means to break through the clouds or to bring clarity. I knew that my mission was to practice as a Sangoma in Canada. Finally, my ancestors are happy. As for the terminal cancer, it will have to wait.
