Amathole District Municipality (ADM) held a Traditional Healers and Praise Singers Imbizo in Ngqushwa on 29 September 2026.
The event was held at Ncumisa Kondlo Hall. It brought together traditional healers, praise singers, government representatives, traditional leaders and other stakeholders.
The meeting focused on issues affecting traditional healers and praise singers. It also looked at ways to improve communication between the sector and government.
ADM continues Imbizo programme
The ADM Imbizo programme started at Nqadu in Mbhashe in 2025.
The programme was created to give traditional healers and praise singers a platform to raise their concerns. It also aims to improve engagement with government and traditional leaders.
Since then, ADM has taken the programme to other parts of the district.
This year, Ngqushwa hosted the engagement. Participants were able to speak about challenges affecting their work and communities.
ADM Executive Mayor Cllr Anele Ntsangani said the municipality wanted to ensure that the concerns of practitioners were heard.
“We started this Imbizo at Nqadu and expanded it to the rest of the district. We are here today because we want to ensure that the concerns of Traditional Healers and Praise Singers are heard,” said Ntsangani.
Land access raised as a concern
Ntsangani also spoke about the importance of land to traditional healers.
Many traditional healers rely on medicinal plants. These plants are used as part of traditional healing practices.
Therefore, access to land can affect the work of traditional healers.
Ntsangani said the loss of access to land could also make it harder to preserve indigenous knowledge.
In addition, the Executive Mayor said traditional healing and praise poetry form part of the district’s history and cultural identity.
He said the knowledge held by practitioners should be treated with respect.
Practitioners raise concern
Participants also raised several concerns during the Imbizo.
These included limited access to land where medicinal plants grow. They also spoke about stigma against traditional healing.
Furthermore, participants raised challenges linked to licensing and formal recognition.
The discussions also looked at the historical marginalisation of indigenous practices.
Participants highlighted the need for greater respect for traditional knowledge and cultural practices.
Traditional healer Madabane Sinqe welcomed the opportunity to engage directly with government.
Calls for continued engagement
The ADM Executive Mayor said the municipality wanted to create a regular platform for engagement with traditional healers and praise singers.
Meanwhile, ADM Member of the Mayoral Committee Cllr Fumanekile Phumaphi called for the discussions to continue after the Imbizo.
He said the issues raised should be taken to the relevant institutions.
In addition, Phumaphi said traditional healers and praise singers should remain part of discussions about issues affecting their work and communities.
The Ngqushwa Imbizo forms part of ADM’s continued engagement with traditional healers and praise singers across the district.
