Visiting the Traditional Healer

Medicine practiced in a traditional manner is always interesting. Even in the U.S., people use alternative forms of medicine, such as Homeopathy. However, combining medicine with superstition is a whole new story. This is the form of medicine traditional healers practice in Botswana. The traditional healer we visited gave more of a vibe of  a wizard than a health-care provider. So after we got to his residence, he had already made seating arrangements for us and placed his utensils or healing gear on a coffee table in front of him. He also had a camera crew for some reason to record himself speak,  for advertising purposes maybe? Nevertheless, a traditional healer usually sees his clients at home. He started off by saying that everyone cannot become a traditional healer. According to him, it is a position that is appointed from the spirits of the forefathers. Once a person is appointed, he is known of his position by another traditional healer who the forefathers summon. Declining such a position may lead to suffering and misery. Someone asked, what sign led him to believe that he was a traditional healer. He was sick one time and no one could diagnose his condition. His aunt came up to him one day and told him how the spirits want him to become a traditional healer. Surely, after he took up the job, he was alright. Then, he compared traditional healing to Christianity citing how the religion, when it was first introduced, involved traditional healing and witchcraft. Traditional healing was used for the good whereas, witchcraft for evil. He also brought up how Christians believe that when a person dies, he/she doesn't really die but sleeps to justify how his forefathers are also sleeping making communication with them possible. Someone asked what sort of medication he uses and how does he know which ones to use? His reply was during a consulting appointment, he throws a bones from a bag (also practiced during a traditional wedding), and depending on how they land, he goes on to diagnose the patient with the help of communicating with spirits of his forefathers. The traditional healer's cousin, also a traditional healer pitched in citing anyone regardless of gender, can become a traditional healer. So with which problems people come to traditional healers with? Everything! For marriage problems, financial problems and physical problems. They boldly stated that they can get people jobs and even cure cancers if caught at an early stage. If a community is facing theft problems, traditional healers are also capable of doing witchcraft and harming the criminals causing trouble. I jokingly asked if he would see me even though I don't have any pre-conceived condition or disease. He alleged "with 50 pula, I'll consult you." I didn't end up consulting with him due to my own personal beliefs.  However, when asked about HIV/AIDS, they gave in and said that they are unable to treat the disease. Also, he can also refer their clients to the clinics and vice-versa.  

Equipment traditional healers use

They started to talk about the equipment they use. The hairy thing you see on the left side and the far right is an antelope tail. They use that during consulting and to ward off demons if they interrupt; interesting! right? The bottle you see (it was a used whiskey bottle), is used for protection. What kind of protection you may ask? Jealousy from others and curse. It's ironic that something like a whiskey bottle is used for protection, when drunk driving is a major issue in Botswana. I'll end here. Explaining the 'significance' of each tool would make this an endless post. Although, some of the objects had some interesting uses. He also took us to the consulting room and displayed other gimmicks to treat their patients. You can check out the pictures on the album.