Witch Doctors Join in AIDS Fight

The World Health Organization estimates that as many as 80 percent of black South Africans seek their counsel, making sangomas an important ally for community organizations like Living Hope.

"Of course, sangomas and black pastors actually control different areas of the community," said Anne Mackeller, public relations officer for Living Hope. "And if they don't understand who you are and what you're doing, if you seem to be a threat to them, then they just won't let you in."

Wary of being evangelized, the 15 sangomas proceeded cautiously in their agreement to study the Gospel of John twice a week before receiving structured lessons in human anatomy, the tell-tale signs of AIDS and the function of antiretrovirals and other modern medications.

Mackeller hopes the training and education will alleviate not only the suffering, but also the stigma associated with the disease. Misinformation and misdiagnosis have led to an explosion in the mortality rate, she said.

"Very often they believe that the ancestors are angry with them and that's why they're so ill . . . that they're being punished. And the sangomas tell them to shave their heads and take various potions and put various creams on their bodies," she said. "When they eventually get to us, they're in really bad shape."

While Living Hope anticipates that the course will alter the medical advice prescribed by the sangomas, Mackeller also emphasizes that the organization's other objective is conversion.

"This is very much to make them realize that they are loved by God, and that maybe they are HIV-positive and maybe they're not, but either way, God loves them and he doesn't judge them in that way," Mackeller said.

Themba and Tshetsha tell others that they are not Christian, but that Living Hope's devotions helped them to "look through the Bible and find something that applies to us." At least one sangoma has converted to Christianity.

Such language makes many uncomfortable, particularly when Living Hope is funded so heavily by South African and U.S. taxpayers. Nearly half of Living Hope's budget comes from the President's Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief -- the Bush administration's $15 billion effort to combat the worldwide pandemic.

Nathan Geffen, spokesman for the South African AIDS lobby group Treatment Action Campaign, said his organization applauds the educational efforts of Living Hope, but strongly discourages its evangelism.

"To try and offer medical training, but make that knowledge contingent upon changing people's religious views, that I find obnoxious," Geffen said.

Matholeni, the chaplain, brushes aside such criticism.

"They came to us knowing very well what we stand for and knowing that this is God's thing," she said. "We want to continue with the course, but we have to do this work through the Lord Jesus Christ."

Living Hope has not collected substantive data on the material gains of its ongoing relationship with the traditional healers, but points to a number of vague signs of success -- expanding involvement within the community structures of Masiphumelele, the conversion of a prominent sangoma to Christianity and increased attendance in AIDS awareness courses.

Themba says his own success is found in his new understanding of an epidemic killing an entire generation of the Xhosa population.

"Before, the people tried to hide their illness, and they still do, but now it's better because we know the symptoms," he said. "Now we can know this person is dying of AIDS."