Traditional Healing in South Africa

Why is it important? World Health Organization in 1970’s concluded that traditional healing systems have intrinsic utility and should be developed for the wider use/benefit of mankind It can solve certain cultural health problems It contributes to science and universal medicine It is historically tested and contextually relevant knowledge developed and passed on through generations Healers are respected in the community because they have an intuitive understanding of the conflicts that are common in their culture and they participate in the worldview of their patients Research shows that a number of other countries rely on consultations with traditional healers

South African Healers Traditional Healer Use of traditional herbs and medicines Contacts spiritual ancestors May act as a medium with spirits. They play an important social role within communities Faith Healer Integrates religious and traditional contexts based mainly on Christian healing principles Holistic understanding of health and wellness An individual must be in harmony with themselves, their body, family society, spirits and God.

Herbalist

South African Healers Herbalists Not mystically called to their profession Decide to apprentice for an established herbalist who will accept them an teach them Resemble Westerns societies pharmacists Have a knowledge of a vast array of plants, roots and other substances

South African Healers Witchcraft Emphasis on supernatural power for evil Used to harm others or help oneself at the expense of others A person is labelled a ‘witch’ and would not identify themselves as such Jealousy perhaps the most common driving force Confusion surrounds magical force as it can be used as both for good an evil

Prevalence of Healers 24.8% of black urban South Africans favour Faith Healers while 24% favour Traditional Healers 28% of patients in a Johannesburg psychiatric hospital admitted to seeing a traditional healer prior to admittance Right: Phephisile Maseko, National Coordinator of THO, with a Western health practitioner

The West vs The rest Thwasa (rite of passage) A person is ‘called’ by their ancestral spirits Spirits visits person through dreams and/or animals They accept the illness and become initiates for a period of three to five years Training involves dance, dreams, songs and ceremonial rites Western perspective Calling is associated with sickness and disintegration Dreams regarded as subconscious interpretations Psychiatry believes symptoms represent schizophrenia, epilepsy, psychosis or a psychoneurotic condition Anthropology views it rather as ‘spiritual emergency” that can result in psychological well-being

Western Perspectives Emphasis on spirits, animal familiars, medicines from bizarre ingredients, outlandish garbs worn by some diviners and herbalist and the fear of witches all seem far removed from the clinical procedures and logical thought sequences of western medicine

THOKOZANI BOGOGO NABOMKHULU! (“Praise/Hail the respected Elders!”) Traditional Healers Organizations "THO is an organisation that organises, trains and certifies traditional health practitioners. It fights for member’s rights to practice the tradition of healing. We also assure the values, quality of treatment, efficacy, safety and ethical standards of member practitioners. Empowering healers of Africa to heal the continent". html html

Contact List Tony Dold - Curator of the Selmar Schonland Herbarium, Grahamstown, Lecturer of Botany at Rhodes UniversitySelmar Schonland Herbarium Michelle Cocks – Researcher at Institute for Social and Economic Research, Lecturer of Anthropology at Rhodes University Siyazama Pre-School Project, LM Mtwalo ( – VIDEO: Traditional Health Organisation Secretariat –

Angles Liminality – the space in-between Western vs Traditional practices Legitimizing traditional healing as a practice Stigma against Traditional and Faith healers and debunking myths Western (mis)understandings of psycho-spiritual practices Development of traditional healers through thwasa

Consultation room for vumisa

Traditional medicines