Ancestral Dialogues and Queer Identities: Understanding iZangoma’s Indigenous Knowledge on Homosexuality in Rural KwaZulu-Natal

This paper explores indigenous interpretations of homosexuality within the spiritual and ritual practices of Sangoma (diviners/traditional healers/traditional health practitioners) in rural KwaZulu-Natal. Specifically, it investigates how iZangoma articulate ancestral understandings of queer identities and the extent to which these identities are accommodated, contested, or redefined within indigenous knowledge systems. Drawing on a qualitative research strategy rooted in indigenous epistemologies, the study employs purposive and snowball sampling techniques to identify participants. In-depth interviews were conducted with Sangoma, who engage with ancestral communication and possess lived or observed experiences relating to non-heteronormative identities. The findings reveal a complex negotiation between traditional spiritual authority and contemporary understandings of gender and sexuality. While some iZangoma invoke ancestral validation to affirm queer identities, others express ambivalence or contestation grounded in sociocultural beliefs. The study contributes to anthropological and queer scholarship by highlighting how indigenous knowledge systems are not static but are continuously shaped through spiritual dialogues and evolving cultural contexts.