abapfumu

How to say it

Meaning

Traditional healers or diviners believed to use supernatural powers, for healing or, sometimes, for harm.

Good to know

plural of umupfumu (aba- class); ambivalent register — respected as healers in traditional contexts, viewed with suspicion in Christian ones.

Examples

• Abapfumu bo mu gace kacu bavuraga indwara zitandukanye n'imiti gakondo.The traditional healers of our area used to treat various illnesses with herbal medicine.
• Ese abapfumu bakoresha imizi n'ibimera mu buvuzi bwabo?Do witch doctors use roots and plants in their treatments?
• Abapfumu ntibemewe kuvura indwara zikomeye mu bitaro.Witch doctors are not authorized to treat serious diseases in hospitals.

The same word in