ArticleThe South African journal of psychiatry : SAJP : the journal of the Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa2021
Becoming a Xhosa traditional healer: The calling, illness, conflict and belonging.
Article in The South African journal of psychiatry : SAJP : the journal of the Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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3 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.
- Contextualising Mental Privacy in South Africa: Legal, Ethical, and Socio-Cultural Considerations With Policy Recommendations.Developing world bioethics · 2026Article
- Cultural Drivers, Modes of Use, and Perceived Harms of Traditional and Non-Traditional Smokeless Tobacco Use in South Africa: A Qualitative Study.Tobacco use insights · 2026Article
- Course of psychotic experiences and disorders among apprentice traditional health practitioners in rural South Africa: 3-year follow-up study.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2022Article
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 4 institutions in 4 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundTraditional healers (THs) are an important part of the healthcare system in sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding their training, experiences of becoming healers and their perceived roles in society is critical.
aimThis study aimed to explore the experience of becoming a TH, including accepting the calling, and sheds light on how the experience is conceptualised within the cultural and communitarian context of THs.
settingThis study was conducted amongst Xhosa THs in the Western Cape, South Africa.
methodsIn-depth phenomenological interviews (
resultsThe experience of becoming a TH can be summarised in the context of three units of significance: (1) the gift of healing as an illness; (2) the experience of conflict (including with their families, the church and self-conflict); and (3) the experience of belonging. Familial conflict, specifically, was fuelled by the financial burden of becoming a TH and a lack of understanding of the process.
conclusionTo develop a workable model of collaboration in the future, it is crucial that mental healthcare providers develop a better understanding of the experiences of THs in becoming care providers. The findings highlight an appreciation of the challenging process of becoming a TH. Finally, further research and culturally appropriate psychoeducation can provide trainee THs and their family members with the skills and knowledge to support each other through a difficult process.
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