Imhotep journal african Healing Traditions Volume 7, May 2010
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- Bu səhifədəki naviqasiya:
- Traditional Healing of the Dogon People
- The Roles of Diviners Healers The Roles of Diviners Healers
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Yoruba Traditional Healing 39 __________________________________________________________________ Imhotep Journal, Volume 7, May 2010 Traditional Healing of the Dogon People Traditional healing is the most ancient form of all practiced and organized medicine, and this is what makes it an important topic to explore, for it is from these traditional practices of medicine that modern practices have emerged. In western medicine, certain practices, such as the integration of spirituality and healing have commonly been left behind, while the treatment of illness with drugs has grown. Traditional healing is holistic, for it is not only focused on curing the symptoms of an illness, but also identifying and alleviating the cause of an illness. In traditional healing it is vital to take the mind, body, and soul into consideration. The Dogon are an African ethnic group situated in Mali’s Bandiagara Cliffs (Roberts, 1990). According to Roberts (1990), it is here that they have been able to preserve their traditions, and live in ways that are consistent with the legacy of their ancestors. The Dogon people, despite tourism, remain quite isolated, and so there are many differing interpretations of their mythology and belief systems. The Dogon’s spirituality is commonly referred to as animism, which is the belief that all aspects of the earth (animals, plants, rocks, ocean etc.) have a soul. Traditional healing is vital to the Dogon, for it explicates and solves illness in a spiritual way that is consistent with their worldview (Beneduce, 1996). In Dogon traditional healing, diviners play a key role, and work closely with healers or herbalists when treating the sick (Beneduce, 1996, p. 193). When treating a patient, Dogon healers consult and utilize nature, the ancestors, and other spiritual forces. The purpose of this paper is to explore from an Afrocentric perspective, the practice of Dogon traditional healing, by explaining how diviners and healers, conceptualize and treat illness. This report will also investigate the ways in which traditional and western medical practices have been syncretized. This paper will also show how this practice is harmonious with aspects of the African 40 Imhotep Journal
Worldview, which is the united philosophical assumptions that determine the way in which African people perceive, think, feel, and experience the world. The Roles of Diviners & Healers The Roles of Diviners & Healers Diviners are crucial to traditional healing, and are active participants in all steps of the healing process (Beneduce, 1996). According to Beneduce (1996), they are responsible for diagnosis, identification of causes, choosing of healers for treatment, and prescribing initial sacrifices that should be completed. There are several different types of diviners, who have different ways of interpretation. Among the Dogon, the most common name for diviners is almaga kanne. Others include the nummo gendun, who read palms, and yanga yeru vèlè, who interpret dreams (Beneduce, 1996). Roberts (1990) elaborates on the most well known form of Dogon divination, in which the yurugu kundune construct grids and symbols in the sand representing the concerns of the villagers. Yurugu kundune then leaves strategically placed (food) offerings in the sand to attract the mythical pale fox (Yurugu), which the Dogon believe to be an oracle. The diviner then returns to interpret the pattern of paw prints that the fox leaves behind. The yurugu kundune’s use of the fox as a means of revelation exemplifies both the Dogon’s animist beliefs, and African Cosmology. African cosmology involves the belief that everything in the natural world is of the same spiritual essence, therefore everything is interconnected and interdependent. The Hogon, or spiritual leader of subgroups of Dogon, is also a diviner, and has ultimate power in the divination of the fox (Harvey, 2007). Griaule (1965) notes, that there is a significant difference between those diviners who simply extract knowledge, and those who use techniques that require some other means, or support, to extract knowledge. Those diviners, who interact with the supernatural world, require much more training, and their job is considered dangerous and risky. Healers, or herbalists, are called djon-djongonon, which translates as he who gives remedies, he who treats (Beneduce, 1996). The djon-djongonon frequently seeks out the help of diviners, particularly if the case is difficult, or if directions for sacrifice are needed (Beneduce, 1996). Sometimes they will even seek personal help Healing of the Dogon People 41 Yüklə 394,67 Kb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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