Abstract
Western biomedicine is an explicit method to therapeutic illnesses with evidence-based treatment validated through biological research, with treatment administered via formally trained doctors, nurses, and other such licensed medical practitioners. In contrast, the African Initiated churches see the therapeutic efficacy in restoring health in nature. Unfortunately, there were crusades to eliminate any ‘primeval knowledge’, and spirituality by the scientifically, economically and socially dominant western powers. This paper therefore is an attempt to show the therapeutic potencies of the holy mud and water adopted by the African initiated churches in Nigeria for healing processes. The paper adopted the local content policy as theoretical tool to validate this ethnographic research. Findings reveal that naturopathic medicine are potent objects for healing and wellbeing. The paper therefore recommends that indigenous knowledge such as this should be encouraged and harnessed as it is cost effective and easily available.
Presenters
Goka MpigiSenior Lecturer, Religious and Cultural Studies, Rivers State University (of Science and Technology) Nkpolu, Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Religious Community and Socialization
KEYWORDS
HEALING, RITUAL, THERAPEAUTIC, HOLY MUD, WATER
