Early morning before six uncle Themba had phoned to say they were on the way. Nokuthula got out of bed, checked on Mfundo who was snoring and decided to quickly take a bath. After that she woke him up and he took a bath too.

The elders arrived. Nokuthula briefed them on the latest.

“Uzoba right Nokuthula. The nyanga will help him,” said aunty Lorraine.

The drive to the healers house was long, about 2 hours. Uncle parked outside and they all walked in. The yard was big. There was a main house, two shacks and a rondavel where the consultation took place. Everyone took off their shoes and walked inside. There were no chairs,
only straw mats to indicate where to sit.

Pinned to the wall was a large snake skin that had previously belonged to an obviously very large python. There were lots of jars in the room filled with herbs, sand and different soils, sea shells, pebbles, animal bones, paper cuttings and all sorts of other things one couldn’t quite
make out. Some jars were on the floor and others on a table, others lined up on shelves which were mounted on the wall. The smell of burning sage dominated the room.

The healer threw his bones and started the consultation. He said a lot of things. He spoke of the boy’s name saying that it didn’t reach heaven. Which Nokuthula then asked for him to elaborate. The healer asked who had named Mfundo because as he confidently said he could tell that it wasn’t his parents. He said Mfundo’s name needed to be announced to the ancestors. Nokuthula then remembered that actually it was Lindokuhle who had named Mfundo. The boy had arrived home from the hospital without a name and when their father, Mr Bhengu had asked “so
what shall we name the boy” Lindokuhle shouted “Mfundo”. And so the boy was named by his older sibling. Mfundo was the name of a boy who lived in the village, around the same age as Lindokuhle. The kids played together. Perhaps Lindokuhle just like the name. There wasn’t any real significance to it. It is a good name, it means education or to be educated.

Contrary to what uncle Themba and aunty Lorraine had thought, the healer said Lindokuhle didn’t have a calling. He is not called to be an inyanga and it was not the ancestors in him causing him to be this way. He did say some bizarre things though. That Mfundo was being attacked in the spirit realm by evil neighbours who practise witchcraft. He said they were jealous that the family was doing okay even without parents. He said even Lindokuhle leaving is part of their evil plan. Nokuthula listened with high scepticism but kept her opinions to herself.

They were given herbs for Mfundo to bathe in, a potion for him to drink and an ointment mixed with herbs for him to rub on his face at night. The healer also burned more sage bringing it to Mfundo’s face to inhale. He was also put in a type of steam room in one of the shacks.

“How are you feeling?” Nokuthula asked Mfundo after the process was done. They were in the car waiting for uncle and aunty who were still talking to the nyanga.

“I’m feeling better.” He said.

He did look and sound bit better but Nokuthula was still concerned.