The concept of traditional healing and its role in african modern society

Abstract

Traditional healers are essential in traditional and modern African societies, not only because of their special powers to heal the sick and the dying but also because of their link to the spirits of the departed, which is believed to be a special cultural gift. Among other categories of healers, they are still consulted and respected in Southern Africa. It is for their unique specialised ability to heal body and soul, protect people against ailments and help people maintain the balance between the mental, physical and spiritual states that people view them as the soul of society. Although we live in highly civilised societies that prefer to use medical doctors rather than traditional healers, some people still consult and require the services of traditional healers. It is against this background that in this article an attempt will be made to interrogate the significance of special herbs in African society and to look at the number of Africans that still consult traditional healers. The lifelong tradition of using herbs has stood the test of time against many external influences, both religious and modern, to such an extent that in the present-day society there still are those who believe more in traditional healers than in scientific doctors.