Religious and Medical Pluralism Among Traditional Healers in Johannesburg, South Africa

Journal of Religion and Health · 3 authors, 3 centres

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The results indicate that the interviewed THPs are adapting elements of both Western Christian and African traditional beliefs and healing practices, integrating them into eclectic personal frameworks. They self-position across various traditions, including as both prophets (*amaprofeti*) in African-initiated churches and as sangomas in African traditions. The study concludes that this creates newly emerging constellations of belief systems and therapeutic possibilities in contemporary South Africa.

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public health

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ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10040931

Religious and Medical Pluralism Among Traditional Healers in Johannesburg, South Africa

Journal of Religion and Health

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ABSTRACT

Abstract Religion and spirituality are powerful social forces in contemporary South Africa. Traditional Health Practitioners (THPs) are commonly consulted for both spiritual and medical ailments as a first line of care. Many studies have assessed African traditional health seeking behaviors but few have examined beliefs, practices, and behaviors of THPs themselves. This study sought to explore spiritual worldviews among South African THPs. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 18 THPs in Johannesburg, South Africa between January and May, 2022. Interviews were transcribed and translated into English. Data were managed using NVivo 12 software and thematically analyzed. The majority of THPs interviewed indicated that initiation as a THP was almost always preceded by a sickness accompanied by dreams/visions that represented an “ancestral calling” to become a healer. Most THPs also trained as both sangomas—who healed according to traditional beliefs—and prophets—who healed according to Christian beliefs. This reflects a syncretic relationship between traditional African beliefs and Christianity. However, not all churches are accepting of traditional beliefs and subsequently these THPs are members only at non-Pentecostal AIC churches who blend both African and Christian practices. Similar to these forms of religious pluralism melding Christianity and traditional beliefs, many THPs also often practice medical pluralism, mixing Western treatments with traditional practices/medicines. THPs are able to adapt elements of Western and African beliefs into healing practices that span multiple religious and medical fields. Thus, collaborative and decentralized healthcare services may be highly acceptable among such a pluralistic community. Keywords: South Africa, Johannesburg, Traditional healers, Religious syncretism, Medical pluralism

CITATION EXPORT

Michael Galvin, Lesley Chiwaye, Aneesa Moolla. Religious and Medical Pluralism Among Traditional Healers in Johannesburg, South Africa. Journal of Religion and Health. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-023-01795-7

AUTHORS

3 · 3 CENTRES

Michael Galvin, Lesley Chiwaye, Aneesa Moolla

1Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office (HE2RO), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
2Department of Psychiatry, Boston Medical Center (BMC), Boston, USA
3Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA