The exploration of indigenous knowledge systems of the Barolong boo Ratshidi with a special focus on traditional healing

Abstract

The Barolong boo Ratshidi is part of the Batswana ethnic group who still uses traditional healing practices to maintain their health because these practices are the backbone of African culture. However, the Barolong boo Ratshidi’s migration to urban areas has affected their traditional healing practices as they had to adapt to Western practices. Their Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) and the importance of their traditional healing are fading away since there is very little documentation of them. To explore the traditional healing practices of the Barolong boo Ratshidi, this study employed the ethnographic method for data collection for a period of three months. In-depth interviews were conducted with six participants to explore their perspectives on the above challenges. Informal interviews were conducted with eight participants for the in-depth exploration of the topic of the study, and they provided rich qualitative data. Two focus group discussions were conducted with Barolong boo Ratshidi youths and elders to obtain different views and perspectives from both groups. I further embedded myself in a group of traditional healers during the Annual Conference of the Dingaka Association to observe and learn their traditional healing ways. The data were analysed thematically to refine the themes and the presentation of the findings. The study revealed that in the Barolong boo Ratshidi community, the traditional healing system still plays a significant role and forms part of their IKS. There is a need for further, thorough research that will contribute to the preservation of the Barolong boo Ratshidi’s IKS. The preservation of the IKS is critical in ensuring that all types of knowledge are included in the development of South African society

Barolong boo Ratshidi ke karolo ya setlhopa sa morafe wa Batswana bao ba santseng ba dirisa mekgwa ya go alafa ya setso go tlhokomela boitekanelo jwa bone, ka gore mekgwa e ke seikokotlelo sa setso sa SeAfrika. Le fa go le jalo, khudugo ya Barolong boo Ratshidi go ya metse setoropong e nnile le seabe mo kalafong ya bone ya setso ka gore ba ne ba tshwanetse go itlwaetsa mekgwa ya metse setoropo. Tsamaiso ya kitso ya tlholego le botlhokwa ba kalafi la setso tsa bone, di a nyelelela ka ntlha ya kwadiso e e bokoa ya tsona. Go sekaseka mekwa ya kalafi ya setso ya Barolong boo Ratshidi, patlisiso e, e dirisitse mokwa wa “ethnographic” go kgobokanya kitso sebaka sa dikgwedi di le tharo. Dipotsolotso tse di tseneletseng di ne tsa dirwa le batsayakarolo ba le ba rataro go sekaseka megopolog ya bona ka dikgwetlho tse di kwetsweng fa godimo. Dipotsolotso tse di sa tlhamalelang di dirilwe le batsayakarolo ba le robedi go dira ditlhotlhomiso tse di tseneletseng go fetisa ka setlhogo sa patlisiso e. Dipuisano tsa ditlhopha tse pedi tsa tlhomamo, di ne tsa tshwarwa le bagolo le bašwa ba Barolong boo Ratshidi go bona ditebego le megopolo e fapafapaneng go tswa go ditlhopha tseo pedi. Ke ne ka tswelelela go nna gone le go tsaya karolo kwa kopanong ya dingaka tsa setso ka nako ya moletlo wa ngwaga le ngwaga wa mokgatlo wa bone go elatlhoko le go ithuta ka mekgwa ya kalafi ya setso. Dintla di sekasekilwe ka kelotlhoko go tokafatsa melaetsa le ditshupetso tsa ditshweetso tsa dipatlisiso. Dipatlisiso di senotse gore mo gare ga morafe wa Barolong boo Ratshidi, kalafi ya setso le tsamaiso ya kitso ya tlholego di santse di tshameka karolo ya botlhokwa thata. Go santse go tlhokega gore go dirwe dipatlisiso tse di tseneletseng tse di tla thusang ka tshomarelo ya tsamaiso ya kitso ya tlholego ya Barolong boo Ratshidi. Tshomarelo ya tsamiso ya kitso ya tlholego e botlhokwa thata go tlhomamisa gore mekwa yotlhe ya kitso e akareditswe mo ditlhabologong tsa morafe wa Afrika Borwa.