Zulu Astrology

THE ASTROLOGER'S ROBE

In olden days, African people who possessed knowledge of healing and astrology used to have special robes made of leather or animal skin which were often worn inside out. On these robes, initially decorated with beads of metal or stone, and later, with trade beads, would be patterns in the form of circles, disks, stars and crosses. These represented various important cosmic entities.

The wearer used this robe in order to become one with the stars that he or she was observing. The robe was also used as an astrologer's chart which showed the wearer the pattern that the various stars would form on very important days.

This type of robe was known as the hiya which means "a reminder." When the colourful wax print cloths arrived in Southern Africa, the word hiya was immediately transferred to these cloths, although they no longer served as instructors to our star observers and healers.

THE ROLE OF THE TRADITIONAL HEALER

Diviners, or more commonly known as sangomas, are usually called to their roles by ancestors. Sangomas use different methods to diagnose sources of problems. Perhaps the best known method used was 'throwing the bones.' A very necessity part of the diviners attire is the "swatch" made from the hair of the tail of an animal.

19th century healing doll from the Eastern Cape

In olden days when a faraway friend or family member fell ill, the traditional healer in whom the family's faith rested, was consulted in respect of ABSENT HEALING.

In this case, a doll was made of wood, leather or any other available material.

This doll, made as beautiful as could be, was given the name of the sick person, and was dressed to look as much as possible like him or her.

Cloth healing doll made from the sick child's dress.

Items which belonged to the sick person, necklaces, ear rings, whatever, would form part of the doll's attire in order to establish a link between the object and the absent patient. The doll would then be healed in his or her place.

Ndebele healing doll. A bottle full of powder is inside the dress.

The healer would then take the doll, put it in a beautiful model hut, feed it, sprinkle or fill it with medicine plants of various kinds and try use it as a means of communicating with the absent patient.

This form of healing, though fast dying out, is still used by healers in many parts of Southern Africa and is believed to be especially effective when the patient is either in prison or locked up in a lunatic asylum. Such dolls are also sometimes used by wives or husbands to call back run-away spouses.