Gogo, have I been scammed?

Bridging tradition and technology with the Ngoma app 

In a world where modern technology often drives us further from our roots, a new app is making waves by doing the opposite — bringing South Africans closer to their cultural heritage through the wisdom of traditional healing. The Ngoma app, developed by innovator Lebo Rantao, connects users with traditional…

25 Sep 42 min

Leaving my marriage: what is required of me spiritually? 

This episode centres on the story of Nompumelelo, a mother of three expecting her fourth child, who is grappling with the decision to leave her marriage after years of betrayal and deception.  Gogo Zipho addresses Nompumelelo’s concerns with compassion and insight, providing her with a spiritual and cultural roadmap to…

9 Sep 40 min

Unpacking the Letoya Makhene incident: The rights and responsibilities of initiates

Letoya Makhene, the former Generations actress turned sangoma, finds herself embroiled in controversy as allegations about her spiritual practices and personal life dominate headlines. Recently she was featured on the Moja Love show Fake Gobela, where one of her former initiates accused her of being a fraudulent traditional healer, adding…

26 Aug 37 min

Gogo how do I navigate my intimate relationship with my spirituality?

Interpersonal relationships and their navigation are often a seminal part of the advice sought from traditional healers. In this episode our discussion focuses on the concerns of a listener about spiritual hygiene in a relationship.  Joining Gogo Zipho Dolamo in discussion are Asande Mahlaba (yoga practitioner and spiritualist) as well…

5 Aug 1 hr 21 min

Cleansing Fees: Are they too much?

As we enter the second half of the Gregorian calendar year, many of us are gearing up and looking forward to the African new year in September and the change of season it brings. I, and many healers, believe it is good practice to cleanse, declutter and reflect at the…

8 Jul 36 min

Music in the age of awakening: A conversation with Phila Dlozi

For artists and consumers of art, music is a construct that reaches far beyond the purpose of entertainment. Historically, in a South African context, artists have used music as a tool to drive social change and transformation in protest against the repressiveness of the former state. Today the musical landscape…

20 Jun 51 min

'Storytelling helped me heal': Author shares methodologies to inspire hope and healing

Gogo, have I been scammed? is a platform for the discussion of issues such as faith, African spirituality and Christian methodologies, particularly how we use these tools to navigate real-life situations. Such situations include interactions and interpersonal relationships that leave you heartbroken, physically harmed and without hope.  In discussions with…

20 May 1 hour

Unpacking the Sassa Mpumalanga ritual incident: What really happened?

By now, we have all seen the video of Sassa officials conducting what appears to be a ritual at their Mpumalanga offices. The footage was captured by CCTV, showing one official holding a snake. It is said that residues of needles and other muthi-like substances were discovered at the offices. …

7 May 43 min

Faith homes and healers: The Menzi Ngubane story  

Faith homes and compounds are well known and received in African communities. These establishments support community members with illnesses beyond the scope of western medicine.   Faith homes and compounds led by notorious healers such as Ma’Ngconde, once crowned “the healer of the nation”, enjoy publicity by word of mouth…

22 Apr 52 min

Human rights and spirituality: reflecting on South Africa's landscape  

In Human Rights Month, host Gogo Zipho Dolamo engages in retrospective conversation with seasoned sangoma Nonkwenkwezi.   With the growing presence of iZangoma and traditional spiritualities in media, one wonders what this looked like pre-democracy and the new constitution in South Africa. Nonkwenkwezi offers insights on the social context and…

18 Mar 51 min

The significance of ukuzila in an African spiritual context 

March signifies the month of human rights for all South Africans. With the constitution having been affected 27 years ago, this month we commemorate human rights for all, specifically religious and spiritual rights.   In this episode we briefly reflect on the progression of rights afforded to izangoma and their…

4 Mar 53 min

Navigating relationships and spirituality Part 2: Marriage and family life  

The month of love has been dedicated to unpacking the complexities of navigating relationships and spirituality. This episode focuses on the relational aspect of love and spirituality within the parameters of marriage. Joining the discussion are couple Alyndale and Gerald Machethe, both journeying spiritualists. As journeying spiritualists Alyndale believes: "We both…

19 Feb 1 hr 06 min

Navigating relationships and spirituality: Practical do’s and don’ts 

It is inevitable that traditional healers deal with dating and romantic relationships in their practices and personal lives. From trying to navigate spiritual do’s and don'ts to facing ethical dilemmas from clients seeking love at all costs, relationships intersect with spirituality in a multitude of ways.   In this conversation,…

5 Feb 48 min

Protection Strategies: How to prepare for the new year

Families have ways that they ready their children for the year. For example, when visiting my grandmother, she would light candles and start praying for us days before we had to depart to our varsities and places of work and residence. A colleague in the Cape Town office told me…

22 Jan 44 min

Gogo, can I phahla in my rented space?

There is much talk about whether ukuphahla is possible or effective when conducted in rented spaces. The general understanding or misconception is that iDlozi (ancestors) are specific about space and therefore cannot accept dwelling in rented homes/apartments or spaces. In this episode, host Zipho Dolamo is joined in conversation by…

5 Dec 2023 42 min

Friendship and self journeying in spirituality

On this episode of Gogo, have I been scammed? we broadly talk about friendship, support, spiritual accountability and indigenous knowledge systems, not limited to African indigeneity. Additionally we’ll talk about healing oneself through alternative practices like meditation, yogic methods and breath work. Host Gogo Zipho Dolamo is joined by certified…

20 Nov 2023 54 min

Support on religious and spiritual pursuits

On this episode of Gogo have I been scammed? we are going to be looking at a less overt type of scam in the context of spiritual and religious journeys, that is thinking one can stay the course of one’s journey in the absence of support from one's family, friends…

6 Nov 2023 42 min

Intersections of adult entertainment and spirituality

Spirituality is a buzz word in entertainment. With the rise of reality entertainment, we have been offered a front-row seat in the lives and spiritual practices and beliefs of entertainers and public figures.  Some content has been received as controversial by audiences, particularly when it is themed around sexual practices,…

23 Oct 2023 37 min

Actualising your ancestral calling

In this episode we chat to spiritual healer, Zenande Booi, about being implicated by an ancestral calling that you’re unable to actualise. How do you negotiate your position with ancestors when you’re not able to pursue ukuthwasa (initiation)? Self initiation, what it means to be a spiritual healer are some…

9 Oct 2023 30 min

Gogo how did you know you had ingulo/ the calling?

How do you know when you are implicated by igulo yeSintu or the Calling?  How can you tell that ingulo yesintu “or the calling” is the thing that is happening to you definitively? Our host Gogo Zipho Dolamo is joined by Mkulu Mkululi Jonas and PhD candidate Sangoma, Gogo Khanyi also…

27 Sep 2023 50 min