Masoga, MogommeNel, PhillipMoleleki, Mohlomi2017-09-062017-09-062004Masoga, M., Moleleki, M., & Nel, P. (2004). African diviner-healers and oral performance: a perspective on Sepedi divination. Acta Academica, 36(1), 40-53.0587-2405 (print)2415-0479 (online)http://hdl.handle.net/11660/6788English: Divination is receiving ever more attention in the media. Communities, groups of people and individuals are asking questions, voicing opinions, and making judgements on the function of this important branch of African life and philosophy. This paper investigates African oracle-speech as a typical genre of oral poetry. In short, it argues that the African diviner-healer (ngaka) becomes an oral performer, employing some of his or her clan praises (among other dynamics of orality) during the divinatory process. The data on African divination oracles drawn from interviews with diviners is provided and analysed in terms of theories of orality.Afrikaans:Divinasie lok al hoe meer belangstelling uit in die media. Gemeenskappe, groepe en indiwidue vra vrae, lug opinies en maak beoordelings van die funksie van hierdie belangrike faset van die lewe en filosofie van die Afrikaan. Hierdie artikel ondersoek Afrika orakelspraak as ’n tipiese genre van orale poësie. Die waarsêer-geneser (ngaka), in hierdie geval die orale uitvoerder, benut van sy of haar klan se prysliedere (tesame met ander vorme van orale dinamiek) tydens die divinasieproses. Hierdie artikel argumenteer kortliks dat die waarsêer-geneser ’n orale uitvoerder word. Die gegewens oor Afrika divinasie-orakels soos verkry uit onderhoude met waarsêers word geanaliseer in terme van teorieë oor oraliteit.enDiviner-healer (ngaka)Oral poetryDivinationAfrican oracle-speechArticleUniversity of the Free State