In a candid video shared on Instagram, South African award-winning singer Kelly Khumalo opened up about her spirituality, addressing misconceptions surrounding her identity.
“I’m not a sangoma. I’m just a child of the spirit,” she stated, expressing her frustration with being labelled as a sangoma.
Khumalo explained that while she has undergone an initiation process, she prefers to define herself as a spiritual healer rather than conforming to the traditional role of a sangoma.
“When someone says that I’m a sangoma, I get annoyed. I’ve suppressed this for a while but now I feel that I should just let people know,” she added.
The singer emphasised the importance of recognising the various facets of spirituality beyond the sangoma identity.
“Please stop trying to box me into this and that,” she urged, highlighting that her journey has been unique and personal.
“I’m just a woman with gifts and I have access to them, and I use them,” she affirmed.
Khumalo shared her experiences with initiation, revealing that it was not a path suited for her.
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“I’ve gone through that journey, having people make me drink blood and I drank it and got sick, feeling like something was sitting on my chest for years. It took years for me to get rid of that thing until I aligned properly. Ubungoma defeated me; let me just speak the honest truth,” she confessed.
In her video, Khumalo also critiqued healers who initiate individuals without properly assessing their gifts.
“I recognise ubungoma and I respect those who are called to it; however, I am not umngoma,” she noted, revealing that she has undergone the initiation process four times.
“Don’t force things if you can see that something is not for you. Your body speaks, your spirit talks. Listen to your body,” she advised.
The singer’s video resonated with many netizens, who shared their thoughts in the comments.
User @londiwe5567 remarked, “I like this chat because so few of us understand our own calling and connect with it correctly. It’s key to know and understand.”
Another user, @left__queen, expressed gratitude, saying, “Thank you, at least someone clarified it; we’re on the same boat.”
Khumalo recently released her eleventh studio album, “Rebirth,” in November 2025.
In an interview with “Independent Media Lifestyle,” she described the album as a reflection of both artistic and personal transformation.
“Every word was like a sharp sword cutting through the thickness of every hardship I’ve ever encountered. Only this time, I sang from a place of power and the knowing of the joy that’s to come in the morning,” she explained.
Khumalo further articulated that “Rebirth” signifies a deeper level of maturity in her music.
“It’s no longer about trends but about impact and an indestructible legacy. Such only happens when one is brave enough to allow growth that comes through rebirth,” she said.
