Boity’s outfit sparks mixed reactions

While her Instagram followers where divided on whether television star Boity Thulo’s sangoma outfit on Club 808 last Friday was culturally disrespectful or not, Sunday World newspaper spoke to Sheila Mbele-Khama, a commissioner at the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Commission), who explained that Thulo should not have worn those specific beads for fashion or events outside the practice.

The Club 808 presenter and actress wore the outfit as part of celebrating Africa Month on the show, but those with more knowledge of the sangoma culture said that the attire was a symbolic and sacred outfit worn mostly by inyangas.

“We are not allowed to pass on beads. It’s like one’s medication. The neck beads she has on are for qualified Ndau and Mnguni initiates. There is a specific medicine inside them and they are worn only after graduation,” Mbele-Khama explained to the paper.

However, most of Thulo’s Instagram followers liked the outfit and felt that Thulo looked great in anything she puts on.