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wpe79465.gif (217639 bytes)The traditional healer.

 

Herbalist specialize with treatment using herbs while the spiritual healer goes to the very deepest levels of a person's psyche where many illnesses have their origins. Witch doctors practices dark art of black magic.Many uses body parts and instill fear in the community. In most cases their intentions are evil and inspired by greed. These types of people were /are common in African community.The Missionaries failed to realize that not all healers were witch doctors, even if they realize that they refused to acknowledged that  only a few were doing evil. That caused a great trouble because the missionaries insisted that people should not attend traditional healers but only pray to God for survival. There were some Missionaries who were fascinated by this great magic/ science of the Black people.  In 1919 herbalists were given license in Zululand /Natal. Due to Spanish influenza a hospital was erected in 1918 to help people.  Although the Missionaries were against traditional healers they could not eradicate them away because even today they still exist and active. This shows that Missionaries had the power to civilize but was not strong enough to totally do away with African beliefs and their culture.

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