Innganga

Innganga is a term used in several southern African languages to refer to a traditional healer or spiritual practitioner. The concept is closely related to words such as nyanga or inyanga found in Shona and Ndebele, and it is often translated into English as "traditional healer" or "herbalist." Spelling and usage vary among language groups and communities.

Practices attributed to innganga commonly include herbal medicine, divination, and ritual cleansing. They may diagnose illness by consulting ancestors or spirits, prescribe plant remedies, administer charms or amulets, and perform ceremonies to remove misfortune or illness. In many communities, innganga play a central role in rites of passage, weddings, funerals, and community healing.

Training typically occurs through apprenticeship to an experienced healer, with knowledge transmitted orally and through practice. Authority is usually communal and lineage-based, rather than conferred by a formal institution. Some innganga operate within private practice, while others collaborate with clinics or religious institutions.

Today, traditional healing remains an important cultural tradition in parts of southern Africa. In modern contexts, innganga may be involved in public health debates, legal and ethical discussions, and integration with biomedical care. Perceptions of innganga vary, ranging from respected custodians of tradition to subjects of controversy over safety and regulation.