Isangoma

In this The Story of the Zulus, p. 80, Mr. Gibson translates izangoma 'witch-doctors'. [...] Father Bryant adds that inyanga is 'another title' of the isangoma. The vague use of the English word 'witch-doctor' may be responsible for these confusions.

The isangoma is a medicine man whose medicine has magical rather than pharmaceutical value. The diviners are the only people who regularly pray to the spirits and sing hymns to them. [...] The continuous threat of the community by visible, negative and destructive forces of life make the function of the isangoma an essential one.

Isangomas had been previously exempt from military service since their work with powerful and dangerous muthi could affect ordinary soldiers. [...] An isangoma-only regiment allowed the king to keep a close eye on problematic isangomas as well as acquire their labour and attempt to stem the tide of men avoiding military service. This ibutho of isangomas, however, did not fight in wars but did tend to the king's gardens, mend fences, and perform other work of the king's regiments.

Izangoma specialize in combinations of plants used with sounds, song, dance, trance, evocation and enactment, all of which work toward modifications of the complexities of bodily configurations through various manipulations and intensively staged circumstances.