Sangoma and traditional herbalist, Mr Johnson Nketshenketshe ‘Nkunzembonsolo’ Mgxoteni, stands outside his herbal shop called Vukuzenzele on the corner of Bathurst and Beaufort Street in Grahamstown, South Africa on Wednesday February 19, 2014.
One of Grahamstown’s oldest herbal shops, Vukuzenzele , at the corner of Beaufort and Bathirst street, Eastern Cape, South Africa on Sunday 30 March 2014 . Vukuzenzele directly translates to “wake up and do it yourself”, an ethos which shop owner and Sangoma Johnson Nketshenketshe ‘Nkunzembonsolo’ Mgxoteni believes in when dealing with customers.
Sangoma Johnson Nketshenketshe ‘Nkunzembonsolo’ Mgxoteni crushes and grates imbiza and bhocu lamfithi in the back of his herbal shop Vukuzenzele in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa, Monday 21 April 2014. The imbiza will be used by the customer mixed with redwater (rooiwater) and inqonomfu for strength.
Nombulelo Mgxoteni behind the counter of the Vukuzenzele herbal shop in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa, on Wednesday 19 February. Many of the customers who come to see Sangoma Mxgoteni are said to come with family and health problems.
Mr Mgxoteni speaks to clients over the phone in his shop in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa on Monday 21 April 2014. He has 5 shops in total around South Africa and his reputation attracts people from all over who will travel to make an appointment with him.
An owls skull (intloko yenkhozi) and skulls of baboons as well as a cut off arm of a baboon (intloko yemfene nezandla) on the counters of the Vukuzenzele herbal shop, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa, on Thursday 27 February 2014. Baboons parts are good for arthritis and various other things. Owls are used only for black magic. Mr Mgxoteni sells these parts to customers or other Sangomas. He buys these parts from people outside of Grahamstown who hunt and sell.
The skin of a serval cat (inhywagi), a jackal’s skin (impungutye) and the wings of an owl(isikhova) are available at Vukuzenzele herbal shop in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa, Thursday 27 February 2014. The skins of a serval and jackal are used by Sangomas as decoration on their skirts for traditional ceremonies, dancing. Owls are bought by customers to be used in mostly black magic practices.
Sangoma Johnson Nketshenketshe ‘Nkunzembonsolo’ Mgxoteni crushes and grates imbiza and bhocu lamfithi in the back of his herbal shop Vukuzenzele in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa, Monday 21 April 2014. The imbiza will be used by the customer mixed with redwater (rooiwater) and inqonomfu for strength.
Sangoma and herbalist, Mgxoteni, applies mixed herbs to a client’s baby’s scalp for protection, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa, on Friday 18 April 2014.
A panoramic photograph of the house where the herbs are grown by Trust Nxotheni in extension 7, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa, Saturday 8 March 2014. The grounds are also used as a training centre for other Sangomas. Mgxoteni trains them himself and teaches them about the herbs and ways of crushing and mixing for customers.
Herbs that are grown in extension 7, Ethembeni, Grahamstown, South Africa, Saturday 8 March 2014.
Trust Nxotheni cleans up the herb garden in extension 6, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa on Saturday 8 March 2014. The herbs which are grown here are used for educating Sangoma’s on various herbs and their uses as well as for sale to customers.
Mamatsha Ntoahae mixes herbs in a stampu at the Sangoma training grounds in extension 6, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa on Saturday 8 March 2014. Ntoahae is a trained Sangoma and is also the daughter of Mr Mgxoteni. The stampu she uses to mix herbs is also used for fortune telling.
A flyer to competition herbalists is plastered to cement outside the entrance to Vukuzenzele herbal shop, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa Saturday 29 March 2014. Vukuzenzele owner, Mr Mgxoteni, explains that these flyers are from foreigners and are not authentic isiXhosa herbalists or inyanga’s. Mgxoteni’s wife, Nombulelo, says that the flyers are not helpful to their business as people get scammed and then people will avoid their business in fear of the same thing happening.
