A discourse of african traditional healing tendencies with medicinal plants: An ethnobotanical study of the sukuma of Tanzania, 1922–1960s

• Published in: Social science & medicine (1982) Vol. 358; p. 117251
• Main Authors: Nchimbi, Hamisi Yunus, Alawi, Mikidadi Hamisi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2024
• Subjects: Environment; Ethnobotany - history; Female; Health and disease; History, 20th Century; Humans; Male; Medicinal plants; Medicine, African Traditional - history; Medicine, African Traditional - methods; Phytotherapy - history; Phytotherapy - methods; Plants, Medicinal; Qualitative Research; Tanzania; Traditional Healing; Tanzania; Medicinal plants; Traditional Healing; Environment; Health and disease
• ISSN: 0277-9536; 1873-5347; 1873-5347
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117251

The use of medicinal plants in traditional healing practices is essential to Tanzanian and African health care. This paper examined the African traditional healing tendencies, particularly the Sukuma tribe of Tanzania, from 1922 to the 1960s. Several types of research challenged traditional healing tendencies' role in the health sector. They claimed that traditional healing has no scientific evidence or methodology and is inefficient. This paper comprises three objectives: the evolution of traditional healing practices among the Sukuma; the traditional healers’ conceptualization and adaptation of social, economic, and ecological changes; and the challenges faced by the traditional healers. The study was conducted in Mwamapalala and Mwalushu Wards where Mwamunhu and Mwamigagani represented as sampled villages in Bariadi District. It used both qualitative and quantitative approaches that involved an interpretive, naturalistic approach to its subject matter. Archival materials were also used. The findings reveal that the traditional healers understood the nature of traditional healing in the pre-colonial period. Before colonial domination, all people in the region depended on the traditional medicines obtained from flora and fauna. Their ancestors were diviners, and few were herbalists. The paper concludes that the current healing practice in Tanzania results from the political transition from the colonial period to the independence era. Most people conceptualize that the government had neither effectively accepted the field of traditional medicine nor given the healers any support to sustain their activities. More often, traditional healers have been ignored by the government, and it has been claimed that traditional healing practices instigated violence and, therefore, threaten society. •The article explored the Traditional Healing of the Sukuma Tribe in Tanzania.•It used ethnographic design covering social-economic and environmtal changes.•Traditional healers had knowledge of medicinal herbs since pre-colonial times.•Political change from colonial to independent governments affected modern healing.•The government ignored Traditional healing, viewed it a societal peril and violent.