African traditional and religious faith healing practices and the provision of psychological wellbeing among amaXhosa people

Sandlana, Nonkululeko; Mtetwa, David

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Title:	African traditional and religious faith healing practices and the provision of psychological wellbeing among amaXhosa people
Authors:	Sandlana, Nonkululeko Mtetwa, David
Year:	2008
Periodical:	Indilinga: African Journal of Indigenous Knowledge Systems
Volume:	7
Issue:	2
Pages:	119-131
Language:	English
Geographic term:	South Africa
Subjects:	faith healing traditional medicine mental health Xhosa
Abstract:	The African Renaissance Movement has become one of the defining issues among African leaders in various fields including government, academic life and religion. This resurgence in investigating and celebrating African resources of meaning invites diversified expertise and this paper contributes to this movement through an examination of traditional healing and psychotherapy. It focuses on the contribution of African traditional and religious faith healing practices to the provision of psychological well-being. The authors identify a strong relationship between African traditional and religious faith healing. Related practices among the amaXhosa people of the Eastern Cape, South Africa, are used to exemplify both healing effects and psychological well-being outcomes. The religious component is addressed using Christian-based methods of attending to psychological well-being. The paper argues that although generally viewed with suspicion, misrepresented, and even rejected in some circles, traditional and religious faith healing ceremonies enhance the release of misdirected energies and, as such, should be considered as a proper part of mainstream forms of therapeutic intervention. A strong call is thus made to regard the African traditional and religious faith healing methods as complementary to the current taken-as-mainstream provisions for people's well-being. Bibliogr., sum. [Journal abstract]

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