BY AGATHA CHUMA SUNGURA musician Gift Amuli has abandoned his traditional healing calling, barely two months after being initiated into the craft.
The Zvishavane-based singer in June openly confirmed to NewsDay Life & Style that he had turned into a full-time traditional healer because of misfortunes which were haunting him.
“It took a long journey for me to become a traditional healer,” he said then.
“I had a lot of disturbing issues in my life until I was told that there is no way except being initiated into traditional healing. I am not ashamed of it, that is why I publicise it, and I am happy too.”
Interestingly, Amuli in January was featured in Svikiro, a hip-hop song by Lee Fire and Tat Man.
However, in a surprising sudden turn of events, Amuli yesterday said he could not handle the traditional healing duties anymore.
Keep Reading
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
He has decided to abandon his sangoma “calling” and is now seeking help through Christianity.
“I ventured into traditional healing because I was told that was the only solution to end my personal problems which included strange dreams that haunted my life ever since I was a child,” he said, adding that he had gladly agreed and accepted to be initiated into traditional healing.
“I was somehow eager to start my duties and that is why I publicised it unashamedly. My duties required me to operate away from home. This meant I had to abandon my family and stay out of town at KwaMabasa. This became one of the problems that was now affecting me because I needed my family with me.”
I strangely fell sick and each night I felt like someone was choking me until I realised that the path I was taking was difficult and not good for me. A family member advised me to seek help from churches, that is why I went to Madzibaba Yakope’s shrine in Macheke to look for help. I now want to live a normal life as in the past.”
Amuli, who is still a committed musician, added: “Although all these things are happening to me, I am not going to abandon my music career. Yes, the brand might have been affected, but I want my fans to have faith in me. I am a good musician, I don’t know how people are going to react, but when it comes to music, I am not going back and I will keep on releasing both sungura and hip-hop tracks.”
Amuli ventured into music in the late 90s forming Zvishavane Sounds and released such hits as Wamatuka, By Ginya and Bhora Mberi, among others.
- Follow Agatha on Twitter @AgathaChuma