Dance of South African traditional healers

Thabiso Siswana, 24, is a traditional healer in South Africa, known as a sangoma.

Sangomas have a profound history in African culture dating back thousands of years; they were seen as custodians and were consulted by villagers to heal the sick, communicate with the gods and their behalf and to protect villages from harm.

Traditional healers believe you are chosen by the ancestors to be their vessel, this is known as ubizo in Zulu which means "the calling".

They believe they are able to access advice and guidance from the ancestors for their patients through possession by an ancestor, or channelling, throwing bones, or by interpreting dreams.

Here, Ms Siswana and another sangoma call out to their ancestors in the form of a dance.