The Seed of Healing – Storytelling Workshop on Indigenous Knowledge, ArtTalk
Venue: Albany Natural Science Museum
Next workshops: Saturday 5 July 10:00 and Sunday 6 July 10:00
Review
By Langelihle Elsie Skade
It is time to open our hearts and to acknowledge the existence of indigenous medicine. What I mean is that we need to learn more about the skills and practices rooted in the cultural beliefs of our societies and how these practices help heal our people. The Seed of Healing workshop at the Albany Museum provided insight into the importance of traditional medicine. The exhibition highlighted the value of indigenous knowledge systems that are overlooked in mainstream science. The workshop – led by Dr Phumlani Cimi, a botanical scientist and director at the Albany Museum – illustrated the benefits of traditional plants in our everyday lives.
Although indigenous plants are underrated in Western society, they are still used in medical labs to assist doctors in providing food or medicine to society. An example of an indigenous plant commonly seen is uMnquma, known as the wild olive tree. In the amaXhosa society, this plant is considered sacred and is used in ceremonies. After a cow is slaughtered in a ceremony, the meat is placed on top of uMnquma. This allows for connection with the ancestors and enhances the texture and scent of the cow. The branches of this tree are given to traditional healers and men after they have been initiated, to represent that they have passed a certain stage. When men go hunting in the bushes, they also use uMnquma for protection. White people and Western doctors took the wild olive tree leaves and used technology to turn them into spices for seasoning meat and vegetables.
“They change the packaging and create nice packages to sell to people. This takes away the sacredness of the plant. It undermines our roots,” said Dr Cimi.
Dr Cimi also highlighted other indigenous plants which help heal humans when they are sick. Isibindi (Gadonerma) helps prevent cancer and reduces rash and dark spots. Umavumbumbuka (Hydnora Africana) also helps to prevent pimples and other skin blemishes. Umthathi (sneezewood) helps cure flu – you apply it under the nose, causing you to sniff, and it also eases headaches.
Traditional healers sometimes struggle to remember dreams. They use a medicinal plant called Unozitholana / Isilawu (dream root). Unozitholana is ground and then mixed in hot or cold water, with which you wash your body. After using it, dreams start to become clearer. Unozitholana is accompanied by burning imphepho (Helichrysum odoratissimum), to help you talk to your ancestors. Burning this plant creates a fragrant smoke and alerts ancestors of your presence. Imphepho also has various other uses, and you can burn it, drink it, or you can wash with it.
One of the people present at the workshop asked why some of these indigenous plants have not been introduced to the public healthcare sector to help cure the diseases we have in South Africa?
Phumeza Mntonintshi, a traditional healer who assisted with the workshop, responded by saying that they are hesitant to partner with stakeholders in the public healthcare sector because they make use of their work without crediting them.
“If we register with them, they will tax us, forgetting that we, as traditional healers, work based on the number of people who come to us in a day. Ancestors lead people to us, and so we can’t work as full-time workers. Working with the healthcare sector also means that we want to abandon our roots. They will introduce new things to us and convince us to change what we know about our plants, to reveal our sacred knowledge so they can take advantage of it,”said Mntonintshi.
I felt the tension in the room when this was mentioned. The workshop opened the eyes of many people. I could tell by the nods and the wide opening of eyes whenever they heard new information. This is how we should nod when being asked if we want to learn about indigenous medicine. This is how we should nod when asked if we want to go back to our roots.
