London, July 3 (IANS/RIA Novosti) A British banker was so fascinated by the local culture during a visit to an African village that he quit his job to become a witch doctor.
Thomas Heathfield, 32, a consultant from Maidenhead, Berkshire county, underwent special training to be a witch doctor, The Sun reported.
His training involved going three days without sleep, dancing himself into a trance every night and drinking goats’ blood – which he then had to throw up.
He endured other ordeals to prove he was worthy to be a sangoma, or healer.
Having learnt to speak local SiSwati language and passing the three-month trials, he was given the name Gogo Mndawe at a remote village in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province.
Heathfield said: ‘Mum and dad came for my graduation, along with 200 people from villages here.’
He said a ‘spiritual awakening’ inspired him to drop freelance work advising a high street bank.
‘The training was so tough I almost gave up and the locals thought I was mad. It’s my spiritual calling.’
