The English Lesson 19 theme is ZULU WITCHDOCTORS

Part One: Learn English Skills

Read the following text and answer the questions that follow:

Sangoma Witchdoctors are amongst the most intriguing people in South Africa. Also called sangomas they are known to tourists for 'throwing the bones' and their distinct beaded jewellery. In South Africa they have long demanded respect within the large ethnic Zulu community. This is because they are diviner-preachers and have traditionally been involved with solving problems that relate to the spiritual world. The sangoma would therefore be asked to find the cause of bad events and also protect people against evil spirits.

It is believed that a sangoma has these powers because he or she carries the spirit of a tribal ancestor. At first the spirit usually reveals itself by causing the person to suffer from a serious disease that cannot be cured by Western medicines. If the spirit speaks through this patient's mouth, in a language that they normally cannot speak, the patient is selected to be trained as a sangoma.

Historically, this training took about 25 years but in urban areas today a person can become a sangoma within a few months and even have a second 'job'. Those found in rural areas may still honour festivals with their ceremonial dancing but most are involved in treating patients.

These patients may be suffering from physical complaints and emotional problems. The sangoma is also consulted to solve social problems like bad luck in business affairs or unhappiness in family life. Here they either use herbal treatments or 'throw the bones' which is a ritual that seems to intrigue visitors to South Africa. The sangoma throws four tablets of wood, ivory or bone onto the ground and uses their position on the ground to predict the person's future.

With many people still relying on such consultations, the future of sangomas themselves seems to be quite strong.

Your Turn

What is another word for a "Witchdoctor"?
Why have sangomas long demanded respect in the Zulu community?
Where does a sangoma's power come from, according to the Zulus?
How long does a person train to become a sangoma nowadays?
What are "the bones" that the sangomas throw?
Genius question: what word in the text means the same as "ceremony"?

Part Two: Learn English Structure

NEXT and THE NEXT

It is quite easy to become confused between the use of NEXT and THE NEXT.

When we say NEXT week, NEXT month or NEXT year, for example, we are talking about the month or year after this one. It is now January so NEXT month is February; it is 2010 so NEXT year is 2011.

We would use NEXT in sentences like this:

"Goodbye!" said the patient to the sangoma. "See you NEXT week!"

"I'm spending NEXT Christmas with my family," said Thambo.

NEXT year will be difficult for sangomas because there are more of them and fewer patients. (This means the year starting NEXT January).

Please note that prepositions (words like "in" and "on") are not used in these sentences.

So we DON'T say:

"See you IN next week."

"See you ON next January."

THE NEXT week, THE NEXT month or THE NEXT year, for example, refers to the period of 7 days, 30 days or 365 days starting at the moment of speaking.

On 15 June 2002:

THE NEXT month is the period from 15 June 2002 to 15 July 2002
THE NEXT year is the period from 15 June 2002 to 15 June 2003

Some examples:

"I'm going to be very busy for THE NEXT week," said the sangoma to his wife. (This means that the sangoma is going to be busy for the seven days from today)

"THE NEXT year will be difficult," complained the sangoma when he saw that he had fewer patients. (This means that the twelve months starting from now will be difficult for the sangoma).

NEXT and NEAREST

NEAREST is used for place. It means "most near in space".

For example:

The tourist did not want to walk far, so he looked for the NEAREST curio shop. (NOT: the NEXT curio shop)

NEXT is usually used for time. It means "nearest in the future".

For example:

We get off at the NEXT station. (This means that we get off at the station that we will reach first).

As with all rules in language, there are always exceptions.

NEXT is used in a few expressions to mean "nearest in space". The most common are NEXT DOOR and NEXT TO.

The sangoma lives NEXT DOOR to the chief.
Come and sit NEXT TO me.

Your Turn

Complete these sentences using NEAREST or NEXT.

He loves beer. If you want to find him, just look in the _____ pub.
I am looking forward to the sangoma's _____ visit.
"Excuse me. Where is the ______ hotel?" asked the lazy tourist.
The ______ village we reach is the last along this road.
The sangoma sat _____ to the chief.

Part Three: Funnies

Waiter, waiter! There's a fly in my soup. Yes, that's the manager, sir. The last customer was a witchdoctor.

Patient: Doctor, Doctor You've got to help me. I just can't stop my hands shaking! Doctor: Do you drink a lot? Patient: Not really - I spill most of it!

Patient: Doctor, Doctor Have you got something for a bad headache?
Doctor: Of course. Just take this hammer and smash yourself in the head. Then you'll have a bad headache.

Patient: Doctor, Doctor I keep thinking I'm a frog!
Doctor: So what's wrong with that?
Patient: I think I'm going to croak!

Part Four: Quotations

People would ask me if I' m a Zulu or a Swazi or whatever. I' m not that. God did not make Swazis, God did not make Xhosas or Zulus, God made people. - Lucky Dube (South African musician)

Today we are faced with the pre-eminent fact that, if civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships - the ability of all peoples, of all kinds, to live together and work together in the same word at peace. - President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944

Answers

Answers to Part One

"sangoma"
They are diviner-preachers and have traditionally been involved with solving problems that relate to the spiritual world.
Their power comes from the spirit of a tribal ancestor.
A few months.
The "bones" are tablets of wood, ivory or bone that the sangoma throws onto the ground.
"ritual"