Dr. Tara chats with Gogo Khanyakude, a queer two-spirit sangoma and traditional healer from South Africa. They discuss embracing African spirituality, reconnecting with nature, and the transformative nature of shadow work. They also explore fluidity in gender identity and the power of ancestral wisdom in personal growth.
African spirituality offers wisdom and practices to reconnect with ancestral roots and find solutions to modern challenges.
Embracing femininity as a source of strength and resilience can lead to a deeper wisdom and connection with oneself, nature, and the world.
Deep dives
Understanding Sanghoma and African Spiritual Traditions
Sanghoma is a term used to describe a person of song, dance, and drum in African languages. It is rooted in African spirituality and embodies the use of music and movement for healing and connection with ancestral realms. The Sanghoma utilizes song and dance to receive messages, conduct divination, and provide healing through sound. Each Sanghoma has a unique calling, such as divination, working with earth medicines, guiding others through initiation, or bridging indigenous wisdom with modern spaces. African spirituality and cultural traditions offer a wealth of wisdom and practices that can help individuals reconnect with their ancestral roots, gain empowerment, and find solutions to modern challenges.
Personal Journey and Embracing Ancestral Calling
The guest, Gogo Kanakude, shares their personal journey of growing up in South Africa during a transformative period, being part of a diverse family, and exploring various identities. They discovered their calling as a Sanghoma through an ancestral book and embarked on a path of initiation and cultural exploration. The journey led to a deep connection with African spirituality, identity, and decoloniality. Their story emphasizes the importance of embracing and understanding one's personal and ancestral background to find purpose and authenticity.
Reclaiming Femininity and Rethinking Strength
Gogo Kanakude challenges conventional notions of strength and femininity, emphasizing that strength goes beyond physical power. They highlight the strength found in endurance, subtlety, and control. Exploring African wisdom traditions, they recognize the historical and present significance of femininity as a source of strength and resilience. By embracing the true essence of femininity and integrating it into daily life, individuals can tap into a deeper wisdom and connection with themselves, nature, and the world.
Tangible Takeaways for Reconnecting with Ancestral Traditions
Reconnecting with ancestral cultural traditions can offer valuable insights and practices for navigating modern challenges. Gogo Kanakude suggests tangible takeaways, such as understanding ancestral lineage to guide personal growth and healing, embracing ritual and ceremony as transformative tools, cultivating a sustainable lifestyle rooted in the wisdom of the body and the earth, and viewing life's journey as a series of sacred passages. By incorporating these practices, individuals can strengthen their connection to ancestral wisdom and live in alignment with their true selves.
Tara sits down with a self-proclaimed queer two spirit sangoma, a South African traditional healer, who is passionate about issues of youth and creative exploration of African spirituality, Gogo Khanyakude. They are an Indigenous Knowledge Consultant who has embraced their spiritual calling to cultural activism and the use of Earth medicine for holistic health and wellness.