In Southern African cultures, specifically among the Zulu, Xhosa, and Northern Sotho peoples, a Sangoma is a highly respected practitioner of traditional medicine and a spiritual medium.

While the term "witch doctor" was popularized by Westerners during the colonial era, many practitioners and scholars find it inaccurate or even offensive, as it blends two distinct concepts: a healer who fights witchcraft and a "witch" who uses malevolent magic.