By: Natasha Archary
It’s #ChooseYou #ChooseDay on Midday Joy with Unathi and the big question was whether you would consider a virtual consultation with a traditional healer in a quest for spirituality in the digital era?
Covid-19 has really changed the way people approach life with a virtual approach to just about every facet of life. Last year with the strict Covid-19 regulations, attending church was out of the question.
With no end in sight, many religious organisations started virtual services to help people who were feeling spiritually depleted. Being isolated from family and friends was hard enough but for many people, finding spiritual upliftment is a daily practice they can’t go without.
Unathi was joined in studio by Siphiwo Lindi and Xhanti Madolo, the founders of Gogo Online, a digital directory of sangomas, inyangas, prophets and diviners.
In her research on Living in a digital culture: the need for theological reflection, Anita L. Cloete from the Department of Practical Theology and Missiology, at the University of Stellenbosch addressed the notion that digital media is an integral part of every day life.
With technology being such a big factor in the way we communicate, work, play and even make a living it makes sense to also seek spirituality online.
Gogo Online is the brainchild of Siphiwo Lindi who came up with the idea after struggling to find a spiritual healer when he moved to Gauteng.
He was deterred by people who were doing the service an injustice by promising to “bring back a lost lover, win the lottery” and basically just make a quick buck.
This inspired Siphiwo to create an online platform where one simply had to select the area they’re in and find spirituality in the digital era.
“Although I’m not a traditional healer, I have a deep respect for African tradition and izithethe that come with it. Our beliefs should exist side by side with those that are Western-inspired,” Siphiwo shared.
Xhanti Madolo, the founding partner of Gogoonline answered his ancestoral calling and wants to not only share the beautiful cultural beliefs and shed light on customs and traditions but wants to dispell the controversy that traditional healers are veiled in darkness.
“Because ours is a faith deeply rooted in spirit it unfortunately lands itself to those with nefarious intentions, ‘I will bring back your lost lover, make you rich,’ are just some of the extraordinary claims made by those posturing as spiritual healers,” Siphiwo explained.
Gogo Online is a discreet service that is easy to use and include spiritual healers throughout the country.
Also read: Midday Joy: Embracing your spiritual heritage
