Setho is the indigenous faith of the people of Afrika. Motho is an individual who practices Setho. Botho is the value system encompassing the lifestyle and norms of Batho(plural for Motho). Motho is a member of society, and this is an important element because in Setho individuality is not celebrated. Individuals are part of society and therefore must abide by the laws of society. Individuality is only acceptable within the confines of society. So long it does not compete with the interests of society. So Botho is a practical manifestation of how people live in Afrika and is an integral part of a peoples lifestyle.
Fezekile Futhwa’s book entitled “Setho- Afrikan Thought & Belief System” is a description of this indigenous belief system using Basotho as the reference point, that is, the people living in the southern regions of the vast interior plateau between the eastern escarpment and the arid western regions in the south of the Limpopo river in South Africa.
A part of his work talks about the traditional remedies of the people in South Africa, as a focus area of indigenous knowledge system. He maintains that it is important to retain the knowledge and abilities of ordinary remedies for common ailments that are inherent in African communal life.
All members of society are taught, from a young age, what plants and herbs to use for these ailments such as flu, cold, headache, stomach ache, snake bites, fever, nose bleeding and the like. This is knowledge that ensures all in society are healthy as no one need consult a specialist for them (Futhwa 2011:96-97). Prevention is given a higher importance than the vocation of these specialists whose jobs is to worry about more serious ailments.
The knowledge of traditional medicine by medical professionals is paramount to the health profession and the maintenance of a healthy society. Traditional medical practitioners, called traditional doctors, are a unique form of profession whose qualification and trade works totally different from the normal accepted western professional life of vocational and academic knowledge. There are people who practice traditional medicine because it is hereditary, as something inherited from those who came before them. There are those who practice it because of their knowledge of traditional medicine. And then there those who are qualified traditional practitioners who have undergone proper training. It is estimated that over 70 percent of the South Afrikan population uses traditional medicine as their primary health plan. Clearly, traditional medicine plays a crucial role in the lives of South Afrikans.
The danger of not protecting this institution is the now prevalent practice of fake and unqualified traditional doctors. This does more harm, not just to the reputation of traditional doctors, but to the welfare of society since the majority of the people use traditional doctors.
Fezekile Futhwa maintains that it is important to retain the knowledge and abilities of ordinary remedies for common ailments that are inherent in African communal life. The thought behind his work is, the need to document people’s knowledge, as there is every possibility that it would come to an end.
Fezekile Futhwa’s book entitled “Setho- Afrikan Thought & Belief System” is a description of this indigenous belief system using Basotho as the reference point, that is, the people living in the southern regions of the vast interior plateau between the eastern escarpment and the arid western regions in the south of the Limpopo river in South Africa.
A part of his work talks about the traditional remedies of the people in South Africa, as a focus area of indigenous knowledge system. He maintains that it is important to retain the knowledge and abilities of ordinary remedies for common ailments that are inherent in African communal life.
All members of society are taught, from a young age, what plants and herbs to use for these ailments such as flu, cold, headache, stomach ache, snake bites, fever, nose bleeding and the like. This is knowledge that ensures all in society are healthy as no one need consult a specialist for them (Futhwa 2011:96-97). Prevention is given a higher importance than the vocation of these specialists whose jobs is to worry about more serious ailments.
The knowledge of traditional medicine by medical professionals is paramount to the health profession and the maintenance of a healthy society. Traditional medical practitioners, called traditional doctors, are a unique form of profession whose qualification and trade works totally different from the normal accepted western professional life of vocational and academic knowledge. There are people who practice traditional medicine because it is hereditary, as something inherited from those who came before them. There are those who practice it because of their knowledge of traditional medicine. And then there those who are qualified traditional practitioners who have undergone proper training. It is estimated that over 70 percent of the South Afrikan population uses traditional medicine as their primary health plan. Clearly, traditional medicine plays a crucial role in the lives of South Afrikans.
The danger of not protecting this institution is the now prevalent practice of fake and unqualified traditional doctors. This does more harm, not just to the reputation of traditional doctors, but to the welfare of society since the majority of the people use traditional doctors.
Fezekile Futhwa maintains that it is important to retain the knowledge and abilities of ordinary remedies for common ailments that are inherent in African communal life. The thought behind his work is, the need to document people’s knowledge, as there is every possibility that it would come to an end.
Reference:
IGNOU MA Anthropology Materials
