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Which witch is which?
01/10/2008 12:32 - (SA)
Chris Roper
Spending time in foreign cities is always good for perspective. Which is why I've come back from a few days in Lisbon and Durban energised, and with a new eye for the absurdities that make this South African life so delightful.
Of course, foreign (like delightful) is a relevant term. So although Lisbon is very similar to Cape Town - seaside town, full of foreigners, serves good coffee - Durban is incredibly exotic and in another country entirely.
There's also the problem of language - seasoned travellers will know the problems of making themselves understood in the strange English dialect spoken in Durban. Lisbon, on the other hand, is easy, because they speak Portuguese.
I wasn't really in Durban for very long, as I was on my way to a wedding in the more rural backwaters of Kwazulu-Natal. No, not Pietermaritzburg, you nasty people. But close. It was without a doubt one of the nicest weddings I've ever been to, and it left me with a very positive feeling about the people in this country.
I haven't quite graduated to paparazzo levels yet, so I'll leave names out of it. But one thing that struck me was the speech of the father of the bride. He told the tale of the groom phoning to ask for the daughter's hand in marriage, a gesture which he appreciated.
However, as he pointed out, in his culture (he's Zulu) it's customary for the groom's family to come and visit the bride's family, and for the marriage to be negotiated that way. He didn't mention this to the groom at the time, because he's not the kind of guy to impose his own way of life on anyone else.
Imagine his surprise, then, when the groom's family does arrive, via a plane flight, having taken the trouble to find out how things are supposed to work in the Zulu tradition.
Strides
It's a great story, and one that highlights the strides we're making in this country in terms of intercultural and, more importantly perhaps, interpersonal relationships. At the same time, I couldn't help but wonder at how much work there is still to be done before South Africans can claim to truly understand each other. And I don't just mean the way Durban surfers speak English.
At the same time as two families were happily uniting in the KZN Midlands, a family of thirteen were lying dead on KZN's South Coast. Okay, not exactly the same time, but you have to admit it sounds more dramatic that way.
Not that this story needs extra drama. An apprentice traditional healer (although reports suggest that he wasn't officially sanctioned) tries to cleanse his family home of "a foul smell" by burning a poisonous concoction, and in the process kills his entire family.
The traditional healer is a part of South African culture about which I find it very difficult to be tolerant. I tend to lump many traditional healers with all the other religious charlatans out there, like priests who claim that prayer will cure terminal diseases, imams who preach that women are unclean, or televangelists who tell believers that creditworthiness is next to godliness.
There are, of course, traditional healers, soon to be members of a government regulated Traditional Healers Council, who do good work in the fight against HIV/Aids, and in the dispensation of homeopathic medicines and, that most important of medical necessities, soothing advice.
But there are also way too many traditional conmen out there, peddling love potions, anti-witchcraft curatives, and the ability to make tokoloshes eat your neighbour's wife every Friday night. Thank goodness the audience for these conmen isn't online yet, because when that happens you're going to start longing for the good ol' days when spam involved mostly penis enlargements.
Although do yourself a favour and look at nativedoctor.co.za, which - rather honestly, I thought - features animated gifs of those most traditional of African icons, the galloping unicorn and the flying fairy.
Stories
Here are some recent stories. In Malawi, they've just drafted a law to stop traditional healers from claiming they can cure Aids and religious leaders from advising their followers to discard treatment for prayer. Two weeks ago in Malawi, five Aids patients on anti-retroviral treatment died after their church pastor advised them to stop take the medication because they had been healed by prayer.
I spotted this fantastic headline on News24:Hummer man, sex worms a myth In Limpopo, "health officials have denied rumours that a growing number of women are seeking treatment for worms in their vaginas. Rumours are doing the rounds that, in the past two months, a man driving a black Hummer has slept with and infected women."
Here's some testimony from The Herald, from a witchcraft trial in Zimbabwe last month, where the accused fetched sand from someone's footprints, and used it make the victim miscarry her baby. Ms Margaret Manjangara, the chairperson for Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers' Association in Chitungwiza, said "the practice of scooping soil samples could not be divorced from witchcraft. She said it was a very dangerous practice that could cause madness, miscarriages, swelling of legs and abnormal menstruation."
Is it just me, or are all these people insane? That's not the real question, though. The real question is, am I prepared to pretend that I find it reasonable to kill animals to make traditional medicines that can only have, at best, placebo effects? Am I prepared to refrain from ridiculing a friend who visits a traditional healer to get a cure for bad debts? Well, never mind me. Are you prepared to do it?
Chris Roper is Editor-in-Chief of 24.com, and blogs at chrisroper.co.za
Send your comments to Chris.
Disclaimer: News24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24. News24 editors reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.
- News24
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Some more curiousities...
01/10/2008 12:48
Muti made from part of children make you lucky in love....or bulletproof when robbing someone....or invisible when the cops search for you.
Never mind animal parts....how screwed up is a culture that allows a traditional healer the authority to tell his patient to go and kill some poor child for a body part? - jonathan |
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Crap
01/10/2008 12:52
I cannot believe that normal people believes in traditional healers, they are all a bunch of idiots throwing bones around and then give people shit to drink or to do. Any body with half a brain will realize that this is a bunch of crap and go to a doctor that studied 7 years and more to cure people. - martin |
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TRADITIONAL HEALER
01/10/2008 12:53
I an a traditional healer myself, never went ot school to study traditional medicines. However , even before i attended the so called formal schools, my father would take me the mountains and bushes, rivers and cliffs to harvest herbs and barks for healing. This practice has been passed on from generation to generation. Now with the advent of democracy , all kinds off healing, whether real or not, suddenly sprung up. The primary objective of these people is to extort money from peopple. - THOBILE |
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I think there is a place for Traditional Healers
01/10/2008 13:12
who are skilled in the use of plants, herbs and wood. There is no doubt in my mind that they can heal certain diseases; I have witnessed it myself. But I agree that there are the conmen/women out there, just as there are in Western medicine. And these people can be lethal, as it was so tragically illustrated in your article. - Dave Robbins |
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Very one-sided
01/10/2008 13:13
I dont believe in witches or all this airy fairy stuff. However I am surprised that you focused only on traditional healers that some black cultures subscribe to and totally forgot about other airy fairy stuff such as diviners, palm readers and people that can talk to the dead on behalf of others. - bee |
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Medieval
01/10/2008 13:16
I agree with Chris. Although there certainly is merit in using herbs etc to cure common ailments like a runny nose or upset stomach. Where I draw the line is when the line is moved to include Witchcraft and the power of Hocus Pocus over Science. Actually it isn't hard to believe that people still believe in Witchcraft when the majority of the world believes in some or other reigious fairy tale. - Raymond H |
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Its an African heritage
01/10/2008 13:18
I do not visit sangomas but i am proud to come from a country and continent that is rich in herbal medicines and the knowledge thereof. pharmaceutical companies are profiting from the indigenous knowledge of our people.
traditional medicine is viewed as witchcraft if it comes from africa,what about Ayuverda,accupuncture etc.?it is traditional but not classed as whichcraft.
con artists will throw bones to get rid of debt.a real healer will give you herbs to heal u
stop having double standards. - Khegzz |
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responding to mail
01/10/2008 13:18
the traditional healers claim that they pray to their ancestors so that they may be able to heal the sick.now my question is are the very same ancestors giving them power to kill innocent little kids for their muti? if that's the case then to hell with ancestors who claim to be giving people power to do these horrible things. - ntombizanele |
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educate educate!!!!
01/10/2008 13:23
before we make conclusions, we need to know the difference between whichcraft, traditional healing and just plain fraud!
whichcraft involves animal/human parts, traditional healing is herbs and fraud is when DR OBUAHKU promises to get you a boyfriend!!!
i believe in traditional medicine/healing (ayuverda, accupuncture, aromatherapy, using herbs, massage with essential oils extracted from herbs etc)...
know the difference before passing ill-informed comments!
- Gugu |
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educate educate!!!!
01/10/2008 13:23
before we make conclusions, we need to know the difference between whichcraft, traditional healing and just plain fraud!
whichcraft involves animal/human parts, traditional healing is herbs and fraud is when DR OBUAHKU promises to get you a boyfriend!!!
i believe in traditional medicine/healing (ayuverda, accupuncture, aromatherapy, using herbs, massage with essential oils extracted from herbs etc)...
know the difference before passing ill-informed comments!
- Gugu |
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funny
01/10/2008 13:26
It's funny which race adores Merlin the magician - khuzwa' |
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Article
01/10/2008 13:31
Chris Roper, the 'Angus Buchan' of Atheists everywhere. ;) - Spongebob |
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bee
01/10/2008 13:41
We do happen to live in Africa. Im sure if we were in Romania he would be ripping into Gypsy love potions. Dont even get me started on homeopathy... *stir* - celery |
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Totally solved the problem of the smell
01/10/2008 13:48
As it is with so many things, perspective is everything. The 'traditional healer' definitely did solve the problem of the foul smell for that family. In a rather permanent and unexpected way, I'll grant you. - Donovan |
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Traditional healers
01/10/2008 13:55
Aah, but my friend how do you think a lot of our "legitimate medicines" get to be so effective and relatively harmless when used correctly? A lot of it is tested on animals...What is worse? Killing an animal once off, or letting it suffer in a lab over a long period of time, sometimes even isolated from its own kind? How reasonable is that? And which evil is worse? - MM |
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traditions need to evolve
01/10/2008 13:57
Let?s not forget that in the days of early western pharmacy many diseases where cured by killing the patient. The nutters who use homeopathy should read up on its history... it is quite a funny story and not all that different to the quackery that goes on in traditional medicine.
I wish the health dept would make it a criminal offence to BS people with fake cures, physic solutions and other blatantly fraudulent ?recipes?
Any one with some time should google the James Randi Foundation - GT |
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Evolve the
01/10/2008 14:01
To add - instead of trying to evolve traditional medicine, the goverment seems hell bent on preserving the outdated vodoo that does the population no favours.
There is a network of healers that good do good if they were harnessed and trained - given an updated manual if your wish. They have access to rural areas our hospital system cannot - GT |
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@EB
01/10/2008 14:02
I recon just about half - 25 mil or so believe in it. You are living in YOUR own dream world. - EB |
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Column like a poultice...
01/10/2008 14:04
...we should get the godbotherers (witchcraft is evil), the racists (how can THEY believe this stuff) and the cultural apologists (you whities just don't understand my culture) all creeping out of the woodwork with this column. Let the mayhem commence! - Dr Watson I Presume |
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Agree with bee
01/10/2008 14:07
It was a bit one sided I guess with traditional healers being the main culprits. I agree they are ful of crap, but the same can be said for religion or any number of fantastical claims - bj |
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Not all bad
01/10/2008 14:08
I don't think we should paint all traditional healers with the same brush. Natural healing aides are a lot healthier than the anti-biotics we are pumped with. YEs, it does open the way for people trying to make mmoney quickly, or those who practise 'bad magic' and kill for it. Natural medicine can be a healthy way to heal and has nothing to do with magic or spells. That is another subject. - Mark T |
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I ate a baby.....
01/10/2008 14:14
.....last week and now I'm hung like a horse,HA put that in your pipe and smoke it. - ALL MAN |
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priests who claim that prayer will cure terminal diseases,
01/10/2008 14:17
I have to disagree with you on this. I myself had a terminal heart condition, and, being a Christian myself, had my pastor lay hands on myself, with the believe that God WILL heal me. That was in 1999. It is 2008 now, and i can honestly say that up until now the doctors still cannot explain HOW it happened, but I am completely healed, and have no disease whatsoever anymore. - Ekke |
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traditional versus conmen
01/10/2008 14:17
While there are traditional healers who use HERBS & PLANTS & do actually do good work, superstition & conmen have resulted in terrible bloodshed & cruelty. All so called traditional slaughter should go the way of all cruel practices; one can have a symbolic version that does not require the death of another being. There are those who will wear Armani (certainly not cultural tradition) & drive Mercs (ditto) but indulge in the 1st Fruits slaughter. How hypocritical! - toni |
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Not Ignorant
01/10/2008 14:19
Hey, there's a difference between herbal medicine
and wichcraft. Those who never dappled with the occult probably think the spiritual world is a fairy tail. Demonic healings do take place! Demonic healings are mixed with lies and there is always a payback. Good news is that Jesus also heals. Seen it many times with my own eyes!
If you think its a fairy tail, go to a real church or watch TBN if you dare. There is a new dvd out: Finger of God: You'll be blown away!
Dont be ignorant. Fine Line - No Sheep |
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priests who claim that prayer will cure terminal diseases,
01/10/2008 14:20
I have to disagree with you on this. I myself had a terminal heart condition, and, being a Christian myself, had my pastor lay hands on myself, with the believe that God WILL heal me. That was in 1999. It is 2008 now, and i can honestly say that up until now the doctors still cannot explain HOW it happened, but I am completely healed, and have no disease whatsoever anymore. - Ekke |
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Truth
01/10/2008 14:22
There is a different between witchcraft and traditional healer, and just like any medical or scientific method nothing is 100% safe and correct, both western and Africa methods have their own risks.we have patient dying in hospitals bcos the doctor prescribed wrong medication,but that does not mean all doctors are bad. I am a traditional healer and I suggest you go and do more research about african healing and where it started. Go and spend time with traditional healers then you will understand - masingita |
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Dont judge that which you dont understand
01/10/2008 14:23
The traditional healing practice is embedded with issues, which are difficult for a person with either the Christian or western approach to comprehend. To date, it is difficult to subject the practice to scientific principles. However, this does not suggest non - existence of the practice.
It is unfortunate that lack of understanding of the practice is simply dismissed as superstition. What compounds the problem is that endless negatives are labelled against the practice. Members of foreign cultures to the black culture have since their arrival in South Africa been having power and control over resources. They could, therefore, have things get perceived in accordance with their own predispositions.
In relating to matters such as the traditional healing practice, and in attempts to explain them, directly concern people - i.e. blacks - were not consulted, but were rather told. Even wrong things had to be accepted without question, as long as they suited colonialists. That led to yet another bleak picture of the practice. If one gives the practice a closer look, one will find that the are certain similarities between the practice and the conventional medical practice, as well as between the practice and Christianity - particularly that both Christianity and the traditional practice relate to the supernatural world to a great degree. The only difference being the modus operandi, which is determined by cultural backgrounds. - Funnybones |
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traditional versus conmen
01/10/2008 14:24
While there are traditional healers who use HERBS & PLANTS & do actually do good work, superstition & conmen have resulted in terrible bloodshed & cruelty. All so called traditional slaughter should go the way of all cruel practices; one can have a symbolic version that does not require the death of another being. There are those who will wear Armani (certainly not cultural tradition) & drive Mercs (ditto) but indulge in the 1st Fruits slaughter. How hypocritical! - toni |
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Selective
01/10/2008 14:26
Most of you believe in palm readers, satanist and all that junk and you say nothing about that at all. African cultures like christianity and muslim are not immune to wrong interpretations and abuse by fraudsters. I find it difficult that many who do not understand hot this practice works are at the forefront of its bashing. If you dont know how it works just say so, and we shall explain. - Funnybones |
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Liberal Chris
01/10/2008 14:32
I just love reading about these so-called liberal views that are more intolerant of alternative views than the Broederbond ever was. Don't you clever people respect the fact that there just may be some others that do not ascribe to the liberal view but does not target the liberals for theirs, and in so doing are more liberal. - Rhapelang |
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knowledge is not a Disease
01/10/2008 14:35
There is a different between witchcraft and traditional healer, and just like any medical or scientific method nothing is 100% safe and correct, both western and Africa methods have their own risks.we have patient dying in hospitals bcos the doctor prescribed wrong medication,but that does not mean all doctors are bad. I am a traditional healer and I suggest you go and do more research about african healing and where it started. Go and spend time with traditional healers then you will understand - masingita |
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FAKE HEALERS
01/10/2008 14:38
I don't know whether this has to do with democracy but newspapers are littered with foreighn so called healers ads advising people about the healers abilities to make their crime case dockets go away, make woman get someone's husbands, how to elude cops during bank robberies etc. yet there's no reaction from the state / police to arrest people who claim to help increase crime. How shocking!!! - Joe Ntimane |
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Intolerant and insensitive.
01/10/2008 14:42
I wonder if so-called experts take the time to interrogate their own views before they peddle their opinions in the public domain.Imagine if we rubbished christianity or other religions in this way. Tradional healing is a way of life and part of a belief system.Before the missionaries came and confused us, this system served a purpose on all levels ie social and spiritual etc. How can you insult and joke abt my beliefs in such a crude way and taint it all with da same brush? - Cape Town Kid |
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FAKE HEALERS
01/10/2008 14:44
I don't know whether this has to do with democracy but newspapers are littered with foreighn so called healers ads advising people about the healers abilities to make their crime case dockets go away, make woman get someone's husbands, how to elude cops during bank robberies etc. yet there's no reaction from the state / police to arrest people who claim to help increase crime. How shocking!!! - Joe Ntimane |
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A Joke
01/10/2008 14:51
If they are seen as the same as homeopaths then it is OK but when they advertise that they can cure problems like debt, marriage, ex-lovers, employment, luck at gambling, etc etc - that is plain stupid. What is very scary however is that they play on the emotions of the illiterate masses and that is what gives them power. Wait until the gov. gets involved with the Traditional Healers Council - then u will see the real idiots at work!! - cos |
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@ Dave Robbins
01/10/2008 15:05
Well said!! - JM |
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Western medicine limited
01/10/2008 15:08
You don?t have to have a pea for a brain to know that western medicine is extremely limited. Those who practice and hold dear traditional healing will attest to the healing powers of traditional medicine. Ignorance and racist connotation will always inhibit clarity of thought, countless examples are there if healers healing people that could not be helped through western medicine. Most western medication are just refined herbal cures used for years by traditional healers.
- Piet Van Bieltong |
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you lack understanding on the role
01/10/2008 15:14
of sangomas. Please research further. - tshepo |
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