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Sosobala Esau Mbatha (13 April 1930 – 6 September 2000)better known as Sosobala, was a traditional healer and self-proclaimed healer. Sosobala was a self-taught Inyanga and he also had that rare gift of dreaming herbs that could help people. When the scourge of HIV/AIDS started ravaging people, many turned to him for help. It is claimed that others tested negative of the virus after the his treatment.He died in 2001 after a short illness. Today his house act as a motel and home to his daugthter Makhosi and grand and great-grand children.

TRADITONAL HEALING – Famously known as a flying Doctor, Mbatha became famous for his healing powers using traditional methods.

Early years
Sosobala was born in Nquthu KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Sosobala is one of the most prominent heroes of Emambatheni. He comes from a long list of traditional healers. His father Mazinyane and his grandfather Ngoqo were prominent traditional healers. Sosobala learnt his skills as a traditional healer from his father. He left school at the age of 13 when he was able to read and write in order to help his father in healing business. He was a self-taught Inyanga and he also had that rare gift of dreaming herbs that could help people. When the scourge of HIV/AIDS started ravaging people, many turned to him for help. It is claimed that others tested negative of the virus after the his treatment.

Career
Famously known as a flying Doctor, Mbatha became famous for his healing powers using traditional methods. His patients included celebrities, politicians and business men among others. He was invited to New York in 1999 to share his knowledge with his US counterparts on traditional Zulu medicine practices. He was invited to New York in 1999 to share his knowledge with his US counterparts on traditional Zulu medicine practices and honoured with a Doctorate in recognition to his contribution to Health Services by the University of Zululand in 1998. He was also the first mayor of Nquthu.

Death and controversy
Bowman was arrested for money laundering in March 2016 while attempting to transfer from a commercial flight from the United States to a private plane at the Juan Manuel Gálvez de Roatan Airport while carrying $37,000 in cash. On 28 May 2016 he was arrested again, carrying $50,000, and taken into custody. He was first released pending a court hearing on 6 June 2016, only to be re-arrested by the Public Ministerio on money laundering charges. He was held for several weeks in a Honduran prison as his family was attempting to obtain his release and subsequently died en route to Hospital D'Antoni on 6 August 2016 due to complications of pneumonia after police officials realized the severity of his ill health. The length of his time in custody and the condition of the jail may have contributed to his death.

There is a theory held by some of his followers who question his arrest and death, claiming that there was a conspiracy to silence him, because his teachings differed from the medical establishment.

Personal life
Bowman considered himself an African, not an "African-Honduran", but an African in Honduras.

At the time of his death, he had seventeen living children. His maternal grandfather was from Haiti.

Lawsuits
In 1987, New York City charged him with a criminal charge of practicing medicine without a license. It was recognized that "Dr. Sebi" was not a physician, he was acquitted because jurors claimed the state failed to show he made a medical diagnosis. He was later sued by the New York Attorney General for consumer fraud and prevented from making therapeutic claims for his products.

People of the State of New York v. Ogun Herbal Research Institute
At a 1993 Congressional hearing, Shirley Stark, who headed the NYAG's Consumer Fraud Section, indicated that a civil suit against Bowman's company had been successful, stating:"'A particularly glaring example of unsubstantiated therapeutic claims made for herbal supplements occurred a few years ago when the USHA Herbal Research Institute, run by a self-styled nutritionist calling himself 'Dr. Sebi,' advertised in the Village Voice and the Amsterdam News that 'AIDS HAS BEEN CURED' by USHA and that they also specialize in cures for Leukemia, sickle cell anemia, herpes, lupus and other diseases. For an initial fee of $500 and $80 for each additional visit, patients were told they could be cured of AIDS and other diseases. The 'cures' consisted of various herbal products, for each of which USHA made therapeutic claims. Eva Therapeutic Salve, for example, was referred to in USHA's brochure as. . . 'very effective on major skin problems, in prenatal use, against poor circulation, cancer, cysts, hemorrhoids and arthritis.' In fact, these claims were false. Our office filed suit against USHA and entered a consent agreement under which USHA can no longer make therapeutic claims for any of its products'"

The consent judgement prohibits the Ogun Herbal Research Institute (d/b/a "USHA"), Fig Tree Products Company, Alfredo Bowman, Maa Bowman, and their successors, heirs and assigns from (i) claiming that their products or services could cure, relieve or alter in any way the course of AIDS, herpes, leukemia, sickle cell anemia, lupus, or any other human disease or physical condition, (ii) distributing or advertising such products, and (iii) diagnosing, treating or prescribing for any human disease without a valid state license by the New York State Education Department. A sum of $900 for costs was assessed to the defendants.

Alfredo Bowman and Dr. Sebi LLC v. Michael Jackson
In 2004, Bowman claims that he was not paid in full for an alleged treatment for Michael Jackson to help him overcome painkiller addiction to Demerol and morphine with his African Bio-Electric Cell Food Therapy, which apparently lasted six months at an Aspen retreat providing him with "special herb compounds" and trained cooks. Bowman claims that $380,000 was outstanding and sought $600,000 in lost revenue of the deferment of clients and various speaking arrangements after Jackson's brother Randy only gave him $10,000. Raymone Bain, a publicist of Jackson acknowledges that Bowman was a friend of Jackson but denies that his client received any "professional treatment" or that he had any painkiller addiction. The case was dismissed in 2015 for lack of prosecution.