AN EXPLORATION OF THE LIFE JOURNEY OF TRADITIONAL HEALERS IN RURAL AREAS: A CASE STUDY BASED IN MOHOKONE VILLAGE, MOPANI DISTRICT IN LIMPOPO

Abstract

This study explores the journey traditional healers undertake in villages to become practitioners. Traditional healers continue to play a vital role in social, cultural, and health systems of many African rural communities. Ancestral calling, spiritual experiences, initiation processes, and the acquisition of indigenous knowledge and healing skills often characterise their journey. Scholarly attention has focused on understanding the personal and cultural experiences that define their life journeys, despite their important contributions to community well-being. The study adopts a qualitative research approach to gain an in-depth understanding of the lived experiences of traditional healers. The data are collected through interviews and narratives from traditional healers located at Mohokone Village. This study is guided primarily by Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory. The findings are expected to reveal the various stages involved in becoming a traditional healer, including recognition of an ancestral calling, training and initiation, the challenges encountered during the process, and the integration of healing practices into everyday life. The study contributes to the preservation of indigenous knowledge and provides insight into the significance of traditional healing within rural communities. It seeks to highlight the cultural values, beliefs, and indigenous knowledge systems that influence the development of traditional healers.