TINYANGA HAVE ROLE TO PLAY

 
Sir,

As the COVID-19 pandemic runs rampant across the globe, Africa’s response initiatives will have to consider traditional healing practices as one of the vital tools in slowing the progression of the virus.

In Exodus 15: 22-26, we read that after praying to God for a solution, Moses fixed the problem of bitter water using a piece of wood. We also read that God then gave them their laws which as a people they would live by. God also told Israel that if they upheld, obeyed His commands and did what He considered right, He would not punish them with diseases.

Africans are a people with their own way of life which they inherited from their ancestors and parents. Some of our inherited commands include worship God. We further inherited traditional ways of healing from our ancestors through tinyanga and tangoma using tihlati (herbs) and through prophetic church denominations that use tiwasho and emanti (potions and water for cleansing).

Influencing this idea is what God said to Israel (Exodus 15:26 - Good News Translation); “If you will obey me completely by doing what I consider right and by keeping my commands...” In Proverbs 22: 28 He says; “Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors,” which means consider the right/just ancient cornerstones set by your ancestors for the good of all people.

Inherited

For us Africans, our truest First World was the world we inherited from God and our ancestors. This world was governed by the proverb umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu (through recognizing and working together with others we flourish). The cornerstones of this proverb are our environment which we rely on for our livelihood and the extended family, the foundation of our communities.

Why are people silent about traditional ways of healing at such a critical time for its use? This disease threatens to vanquish people, with the winter cold approaching, a condition the medical clergy have acknowledged to aggravate the progression of COVID-19. The concern is, what happens if the efforts in place do not to curb the virus’ tide? In a continent where HIV/AIDS has so many living on medication to avoid opportunistic infections, as a winter flu precaution, these patients are encouraged to take flu shots to sustain their lives through the winter. The threat of COVID-19 pneumonia against our immune compromised society cannot be ignored.

In Exodus 4:2 God told Moses to use what he already had in his hands to fight the evil of his time, likewise this COVID-19 is an evil to us. We have to use the tools we already have at our disposal. As medical experts have declared that COVID-19 is heat disabled; I would like to see Crisis Management initiatives from our governments throughout Africa utilising capable human capital to set up steam rooms/saunas close to treatment centres. Our varied traditional healers are experts in the healing technique of kufutsa/steam baths. They also know of effective traditional herbs for certain conditions.

springs

Furthermore, making our thermal springs (manzana) accessible to the public as a counter tool to fight this pandemic has never been more urgent. This is a matter of life and death for our people, if this situation should get out of hand. The thermal springs are a natural resource which can be used by citizens of our various countries. I feel it is time to revisit what God considers just/right and the cornerstones set by our ancestors when it comes to traditional healing practices relevant to today’s social needs.

Nozipho Sibanyoni

NOTE: Please be advised that there is no scientific proof to substantiate what has been suggested in this letter.

Ed

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