In countries that have experienced traumatic events, there is often a great need for psychiatric services, but many such countries are often devastated economically with little money available for health care-physical or mental. Judith Herman's work in Trauma and Recovery contains a detailed prescription for recovering from trauma which closely resembles the African healing ritual ngoma. Not only do the particular steps of Herman's prescription resemble the steps in many versions of ngoma, but the ethos of Herman's plan for recovery resembles the ethos of ngoma. Both ngoma and Trauma and Recovery share an emphasis on the social, spiritual, discursive, and testimonial aspects of recovery. Both view the afflicted as existing in a liminal state. It is important not to fall into the trap of merely looking for simple equivalencies between African and Western therapies and institutions. Ngoma is not the same as Western trauma therapy in another setting, but the similarities between Herman's ideas and key elements of ngoma can help us to find models for healing in Africa. Ngoma's performative element is also shared by Herman's prescription, and this brings us to the possibilities for the arts-literature, theatre, and film. These can be of use by allowing writers, actors, and filmmakers to speak for the nation's pain. Of particular interest are works which share the healing elements of ngoma and/or trauma therapy.