Page 59 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 9
P. 59
MY AFRIKA
refuse to cut any grass because eaters follow a rhythmic pattern
he was psychically sensitive to of washing hands, putting the In Africa, a human
nature and was aware of the food in their mouths, chewing being is a person, not
usefulness of each plant. and drinking. When nursing, just an individual. An
Osanyin did not just have mothers never cease to sing individual is one who
knowledge of herbs. He also lullabies. In times of danger, is on his own, who
knew how to use the energy Africans sing or recite sacred does his own thing,
of plants to effect changes in mantras to ward off danger. goes his own way
human bodily conditions. This Various methods are used to and separates him-
he did through the chanting of detect the medicinal values of self from others. He
sacred chants or potent speech. herbs. In traditional African has a ‘soul’, a ‘mind’
Osanyin taught that one way societies, and indeed in other and a ‘body’, all of
to attune oneself to the energy parts of the world, people look
waves of plants is to learn their at the color and shape as well as which are distinct
names and pronounce them au- the location of a plant to get an and at times opposed.
dibly. African tradition is an oral insight into its use and impor- A person, on the oth-
tradition, and so pride of place tance. This is called the theory er hand, is a being
is given to memory work and of signatures. They believe that who exists with and
careful use of words. As a child plants grow in any specific area for others.
grows up, he/she is taught how because there is a need for them.
to use words and to avoid saying Herbs that grow on mountains treating all forms of infertility in
certain words that may attract a are believed to be good for the both men and women.
negative spirit. Rhythm governs respiratory system-lungs, bron- Herbs that grow close to the
words, discussions and daily life chi, nostrils and the nervous soil are believed to be good for
as a whole. By a rhythmic com- system. They cure high blood digestive and circulatory prob-
bination of words, Africans get pressure as well as pneumonia. lems. Since they are close to the
themselves attuned to universal Herbs that grow in water are ground, the mineral content is
cosmic vibrations and so are regarded as medicinal. In the high, and so they are good for
able to maintain balance in their first place, they are usually edi- the bones and blood. Those who
lives. This explains why music ble, since poisonous herbs very suffer from anaemia would find
permeates and defines every rarely grow in water. They are these herbs useful. Granted that
aspect of the daily lives of Afri- good for the circulatory system the theory of signatures is not
cans. When going to the stream and help in repairing the liver always true, it is amazing to see
to fetch water, children chant. and the kidney, two vital organs how much of the insights of the
When working on the farm, in the body. Herbs that grow in ancients have been confirmed by
farmers sing. When eating, the water are believed to be good for modern science as true.
It is one of the sad aspects of
the history of sub-Saharan
Africa that we have no written
records of the medical system
of our ancestors. However, from
the excavated surgical knives,
the concoction jars, the carved
statues of the various deities,
we have a good idea of African
medical practice in the ancient
world, and we can now rewrite
1879 Uganda cesarean_section our history.
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