Amagqirha
RELIGION MAGIC AND
MEDICINE IN TRANSKEI
JOAN A. BROSTER - HERBERT
C. BOURN
Mpondomise at Graduation Dance
'Amagqirha - Religion,
Magic and Medicine in Transkei', is a unique visual and written account
of Eastern Cape traditional healers. Joan Broster and Herbert Bourn
travelled extensively for two and a half years - seeking the old world of the Amagqirha with pen,
recorder and
camera. Together, they captured for posterity aspects of the vanishing peoples of Southern
Africa. Joan acted as translator for the Amagqirha - who willing told
their stories. Herbert Bourn profusely illustrated the book with
fantastic imagery, with both color and
black and white photographs.
Thembu Amagqirha or Diviners
Amagqirha have been labelled witchdoctors, diviners, traditional doctors, Sangoma and Ngaka, but in
the Eastern Cape of South Africa they are the Amagqirha. These are the
custodians of customs that survived through the centuries and remain the
foundation of tribal life.
An anointment ceremony following a sacrifice is
part of Amagqirha training.
Amagqirha receive a calling - followed by specialized training. Amagqirha hold the secrets to religion, magic and medicinal beliefs to
amaXhosa speakers. They diagnose, divine and treat patients. In Joan
Broster's words;
This includes the central
importance of dreams, different divination techniques, the indispensable
power garneted by song and dance and the recognition and treatment of
diseases caused by witchcraft and possession by evil spirits.
Xesibe healers known as Amagqirha
Joan Broster neι Clarke, was
born in Engcobo Transkei in 1916 and grew up there. Her parents James
and Beatrice Clarke were traders. In 1938
she received a diploma from Rhodes University in Grahamstown. During the war
she served as a nurse with the South African Military Nursing Service. Between
the years 1952 and 1966, Joan and her husband Broughton Broster, ran the Qebe
Trading Store at Qebe, situated between Qebe proper and Engcobo. As a
qualified nurse, Joan helped out at the nearby hospital located at the All
Saints Anglican Mission.
Xesibe - Thembu and Bhaca Amagqirha
At Qebe, Joan developed a
keen interest to the customs of the Qaba people, the local Thembu clan.
She documented the importance of traditional beadwork and customs, which
resulted in the publication of four books about Xhosa and related
peoples. The books were titled: Amagqirha -
Red
Blanket Valley -
The
Thembu and
African
Elegance (a shared venture with Alice Mertens).
Xesibe Amagqirha Healers
Herbert Bourn was born in
Bethlehem South Africa in 1941. He studied photography a the Ruth Prowse Art School
in Cape Town. Over time, he worked for Nature Conservation at Cape Point,
Etosha Game Reserve, Stellenbosch, the former Transkei and Ciskei and
KwaZulu Natal. His interest in the Amagqirha began when he was in charge
of Nature Conservation in Transkei.
Gift giving at an Amagqirha graduation.
Herbert Bourn met Joan Broster
at her exhibition of tribal beadwork and
dress during the former Transkei independence celebrations. She invited him to
accompany her to photograph the graduation of a Thembu igqirha in
Red Blanket Valley - Engcobo. This led to more visits to Amagqirha
ceremonies to the Bhaca, Bomvane, Gcaleka, Mfengu, Mpondo, Mpondomise, and
Xesibe clans.
Thembu Igqirha
Joan Broster began thus her book with the Transkei
national anthem - Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika. She advises it was written in
1897 by Enoch Sontonga, who was a Thembu. In 1993 it became the basis
for the National Anthem of South Africa...
and
through 