Idlozi-umndawe -

In African traditional spirituality, specifically within the Nguni (Zulu and Xhosa) and Tsonga/Shangaan traditions, (also spelled uMndau or Ndau ) refers to a specific class of ancestral spirits that originates from the Ndau people of Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Nature of the uMndawe Spirit

A person possessed by or "called" by an uMndawe spirit may experience: idlozi-umndawe

: While some spirits require a standard initiation ( ukuthwasa ), uMndawe sometimes "initiates itself" through visions and dreams, leading the person toward becoming a Gedla (a divine doctor) rather than a standard Sangoma . : Practitioners often use specific cloths (amabhayi) or

: These spirits are said to have entered many South African family lineages through historical interactions, such as intermarriage or past conflicts with the Ndau/Karanga people. large snakes (like the python)

: Practitioners often use specific cloths (amabhayi) or beads that signify the spirit's rank and origin, often including red to represent protection and strength.

: Intense heat in the feet or body, or feeling "heavy" as if submerged in water.

: Vivid dreams involving water, large snakes (like the python), or specific elders dressed in Ndau-style clothing.