scholarly journals Muslim Healers and Healing: An Ethnographic Study of Aboabo Community of Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (14) ◽  
pp. 291-316
Author(s):  
Samuel Adu-Gyamfi ◽  
Abubakar Teikillah ◽  
Ali Yakubu Nyaaba ◽  
Mariama Marciana Kuusaana ◽  
Benjamin Dompreh Darkwa ◽  
...  

Societies that have accepted Islam have blended their native culture with what was, rightly and wrongly, linked to Islam. Here, we present an example of this combination concerning traditional healing processes in Muslim societies. Focusing on the Aboabo community, we did an ethnographic study of healing processes and rites used by healers and further discussed the rites, practices, contributions and challenges of Muslim traditional healing in the community. Based on a qualitative research approach, the current study uses both theories of diffusionism and syncretism and empirical evidence to highlight the mode of treating some diseases using medicinal plants and rituals including prayers and Qur‟an verses recommended in ancient narrations received from earlier Muslim societies (particularly Arab societies). Although Muslim traditional healers are nearly disappearing from many contemporary Muslim societies, the continuation of their presence in some societies such as Aboabo is partly related to the standard of living of the people. The know-how of these healers is mainly limited to their native traditions, some principles of Islam and related questionable narrations. The activities of Muslim traditional practice have remained archaic, often questionable and/or unhygienic despite Islam‟s exhortation of its believers to respect, among other things, cleanliness and hygiene, and especially to increasingly develop their knowledge in major areas such as those concerning medicine and anthropology. Finally, we realized that although the idea of modernization of Muslim traditional healing in Ghana is expressed in some local discourses, it remains at the periphery. Keyword: Muslim, Islam, Aboabo community, Healing, Muslim healers, Traditional Medicine, Cultures

Author(s):  
Anindya Bhukta ◽  
Sebak Kumar Jana

Bio-piracy indicates unauthorized use of bio-resources of a country either by the individuals or institutions or companies of other countries. The countries with enormous bio-resources, like India, become the victims of biopiracy. The paper highlights different issues relating to biopiracy in the context of food security of India. It has been argued that the distress of farmers has increased a lot after the emergence of GM seeds. First of all, GM seeds raise the cost of cultivation by monopolizing the seed business in the hands of a few. Secondly, taking monopoly control over the market by the MNCs became easier because technology allowed them to develop seeds which can be used once-for-all. The farmers, therefore, have to give up their traditional practice of saving and sharing of seeds. The paper cites various instances of biopiracy in India and explains how biopiracy jeopardizes the food security and health security of the people in India. Events of piracy of plants with medicinal values and medicinal knowledge of traditional healers are also on increase at a rapid pace in India. This trend also poses challenges health security of India. More initiatives need to be taken at different levels including government and NGOs need to be taken in documenting codified and non-codified traditional knowledge (TK).


Author(s):  
Alexander Stark

This article investigates cupping a widespread traditional healing method in West Sumatra. However, the way cupping is used in some areas of the Malay-speaking region is unique in the sense that it uses buffalo horns during the cupping process. The author argues that for the matrilineal society of the Minangkabau in West Sumatra, the buffalo horn has a special connotation as it is crucial in many elements of their culture. By considering a semiotic research approach, the author wants to offer a new perspective on the Minangkabau and their culture. By doing so, the author intends to participate in the discussion about signs and symbols in the field of Minangkabau studies. In qualitative research that comprised fieldwork, traditional healers were observed and interviewed. The peculiar cupping technique was analysed, and a semiotic perspective seemed most fitting. It was detected that the usage of horns contains a specific meaning for the Minangkabau culture.


Author(s):  
I Ketut Sida Arsa ◽  
Ni Made Ary Widiastini

This study was aimed at explaining jewelry production, its development and implications of the developing trends. This study was conducted in Celuk Village, Gianyar Regency, a place or arena of production, distribution and at the same time sale of jewelry in Bali, Indonesia, in which Celuk is regarded as the basis for jewelry. This paper explains the development of jewelry at the beginning of the emergence of tourism and the implications, and the introduction of casting machine as the method of production which had an implication in the change of human labor, in which the artisans became machine power regarded as more professional in jewelry production. The data of this ethnographic study were collected through observation, in-depth interview, library research, and internet search. The finding showed that the presence of jewelry that is developing in Celuk Village does not give an optimal positive contribution to the community of the village as artisans, but in stead, it gives profits to the people outside the village who are involved in the development of the jewelry trends. The entrance of tourism with the implication on the high level of jewelry production and sale in Celuk Village started from 1980s gave profits to tour guides who were regarded as the ones who deserve to get fee in a large amount by the artisans. When there was a trend in jewelry in 2010-2014, in which the demand for jewelry like accessories for kebaya cloth for going to the temple and a ring with gemstone drove away the artisans whose position had been replaced by casting machines and workers who came from outside of Celuk Village who were regarded more professional by jewelry business people in producing standard jewelry in a large quantity. In this paper it is understood that artisans in Celuk Village are not able to obtain an optimal use from jewelry trends that develop in their location due to various factors such as the low level of education of the artisans, low level of profesionalism in working, and the low level of ability of the artisans in production management


2021 ◽  
Vol 917 (1) ◽  
pp. 012023
Author(s):  
V B L Sihotang ◽  
P Semedi ◽  
A Triratnawati

Abstract Forest has a crucial role in elevating public welfare. It provides various products such as food, beverages, clothes, residence, musical instruments, and medicines. The medicines originated from the forest could act as the supplier for livelihood particularly for a traditional healer. The traditional healer is one of the health treatments sources for the people of Sebesi Island. For traditional healers, the forest is also beneficial in the knowledge production of traditional medication. This study purposes to examine the role of the forest in knowledge production carried out by traditional healers and identify the patterns of knowledge production. Data collection was done through interviewing, involving four traditional healers in Tejang Village, Sebesi Island, South Lampung. Another method was literature study related to the roles of forests in traditional medication and knowledge production. The knowledge production process can occur through giving agents, both human and non-human ones, namely teachers, family members, books, and dreams. The interaction between those healers with the forest also resulted in the medication knowledge. The role of the forest in the knowledge production of traditional medication is that it transforms into a place for semedi or meditation when doing ngelmu, knowledge sources about medication, and the place for the existence of medicinal plants.


Author(s):  
Светлана Александровна Калинина

Введение. Раскрывается понятие топонима как маркера географического пространства и роль топонимики в системе наук. Определяется роль топонима, входящего в структуру фразеологической единицы (ФЕ), и культурологическая ценность самого устойчивого оборота с компонентом-топонимом. Обосновывается актуальность исследования, его цель и новизна. Материал и методы. Материалом послужили топонимические фразеологизмы современного английского языка (213 единиц), исследованные посредством методов статистического и лингвокультурологического анализа. Результаты и обсуждение. В топонимических фразеологизмах вербализации подвергаются различные сегменты объективной реальности, репрезентирующие материальный и духовный мир человека. Топонимические фразеологизмы раскрывают отношение человека к окружающей его действительности, отношение к окружающим его людям и к самому себе. Они также анализируют внешние и внутренние стороны человеческой личности, акцентируя внимание на внешнем виде человека, особенностях его голоса, походки, умственного склада ума, на морально-нравственных качествах и характере человека, создавая при этом определенный позитивный или негативный образ. Заключение. Топоним является маркером национальной культуры, поскольку отражает природно-географические особенности страны, историко-культурную специфику этноса, ее населяющего; связан с менталитетом и особенностями характера нации, ее психологией и социально-бытовыми факторами. В английских ФЕ с компонентом-топонимом также находит отражение национально-культурное своеобразие жизни народа. Топонимические фразеологизмы современного английского языка распределяются по двум большим группам: ФЕ, отражающие материальный мир человека, и ФЕ, отражающие духовный мир человека. Фразеологизмы, характеризующие материальный мир человека, можно распределить по десяти подгруппам, большинство из которых соотносятся с бытом человека. Топонимические фразеологизмы, характеризующие духовный мир человека, включают шесть подгрупп, представляющие отношение человека к действительности и людям. Introduction. The concept of a toponym as a marker of the geographical space and the role of toponymy in the scientific system are revealed. The role of the toponym included as a component of the phraseological unit and the cultural value of these idioms are determined. The relevance of the research, its purpose and novelty are substantiated. Material and methods. The research material is the phraseological units of the modern English language with a toponym as a component (213 units). The methods of the study are the statistical method and the method of the linguacultural analysis. Results and discussion. Toponymic phraseological units reflect and verbalize the various segments of the objective reality including the material and spiritual world of a personality. Toponymic phraseological units reveal a person’s attitude to the reality surrounding him/her, a person’s attitude to the people near him/her and the attitude to self. They also analyze the external and internal aspects of the personality, focusing the view on the appearance of a man or woman, on his/her voice, on gait, on mental state of mind, on the moral qualities and the character of a personality. The image of a personality creating by phraseological units can be positive or negative one. Conclusion. Any toponym (especially if it belongs to the “native” culture) has a national identity. It reflects (except the historical, territorial and geographical peculiarities of the nation), the national mentality, character, and specific features of the people’s life. The English phraseological units with a toponym as a component reflect the national identity as well. These idioms are divided into two large groups: 1) those which show the material comforts of the everyday life and 2) those which tell us about the inward habits of the people. Toponymic phraseological units of the second group include six subgroups. Subgroups including the idioms reflecting the people’s attitude to the social reality and to the other people prevail.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-64
Author(s):  
Rahmatul Husna Arsyah ◽  
Astri Indah Juwita

Abstract: Nagari Pariangan as the most beautiful tourist village in the world has a place to help the community's economy, increase local revenue (PAD). Local industrial products that have been owned by the community can become souvenirs for visiting tourists. However, in fact Nagari Pariangan does not have the media to promote it. This study aims to analyze the convergence of media in marketing the local industrial handicraft products of the community. This research approach is descriptive qualitative, with data collection methods, namely by means of observation and interviews and literature review. The results of this study reveal that Nagari Pariangan is an area with tourism potential that has become the spotlight of the world, there is a need for a media that helps the community in introducing local Nagari products in order to increase local community income. The main key to convergence is digitization, Nagari Pariangan does not yet have digital media as a forum for supporting community industrial output. Based on the 3C technology dimension (Communication, Compute and Contents), which consists of the IT Industry, Telcom Infrastructure Provides, and the Content Industry. Nagari Pariangan is considered capable of building a digitalized medium, in order to be able to make the economy of the people in areas that have tourism potential much better.     Keywords: convergence; craft produk; media  Abstrak: Nagari Pariangan sebagai desa wisata terindah dunia memiliki wadah untuk membantu perekonomian masyarakat, menambah pendapatan asli daerah (PAD). Hasil Industri lokal yang selama ini dimiliki oleh masyarakat bisa menjadi oleh-oleh bagi wisatawan yang berkunjung. Namun, pada kenyataanya Nagari pariangan belum memiliki media dalam mempromosikannya. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk melakukan analisis konvergensi media dalam memasarkan produk kerajinan industri lokal masyarakat. Metode penelitian ini adalah kualitatif deskriptif, dengan metode pengumpulan data yaitu dengan cara observasi dan wawancara serta kajian literatur. Hasil dari penelitian ini mengungkapkan bahwa Nagari Pariangan merupakan daerah dengan potensi wisata yang sudah menjadi sorotan dunia, dan perlu adanya sebuah media yang membantu masyarakat dalam memperkenal produk lokal nagari agar bisa menambah pendapatan masyarakat setempat. Kunci utama konvergensi adalah digitalisasi, Nagari Pariangan belum memiliki media digital sebagai wadah dalam mendukung hasil industri masyarakat. Berdasarkan dimensi teknologi 3C (Communication, Compute and Contents), yang terdiri dari IT Industry, Telcom Infrastructure Provides, serta Content Industry. Nagari Pariangan dirasa mampu untuk membangun sebuah media yang digitalisasi, agar mampu menjadikan ekonomi masyarakat di daerah yang memiliki potensi wisata jauh lebih baik.Kata kunci: konvergensi; media; produk kerajinan


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 177
Author(s):  
Nana Novita Pratiwi

Sekida Village as a Creative Tourism Village is an embryo for the community's economic development. The Creative Tourism Village has provided a space for participation for the community through various activities. Thus, this study aims to determine forms of community participation in supporting the development of the Creative Tourism Village in Sekida Village. The research approach used is phenomenological with qualitative descriptive method. The research stages consisted of data collection, data reduction, data presentation and drawing conclusions. The results of the analysis concluded that the largest form of community participation was manpower and expertise with a percentage of 82% and 72%, respectively. Based on their characteristics, the people who are dominant in contributing to supporting the development of the Creative Tourism Village through their participation are the older adults with an elementary education level.Keywords: Community Participation, Creative Tourism Village, Sekida Village.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Teresa Naseba Marsh ◽  
David C. Marsh ◽  
Lisa M. Najavits

Intergenerational trauma in Indigenous Peoples was not the result of a targeted event, but rather political and governmental policies inflicted upon entire generations. The resultant effects of these traumas and multiple losses include addiction, depression, anxiety, violence, self-destructive behaviors, and suicide, to name but a few. Traditional healers, Elders, and Indigenous facilitators agree that the reclamation of traditional healing practices combined with conventional interventions could be effective in addressing intergenerational trauma and substance use disorders. Recent research has shown that the blending of Indigenous traditional healing practices and the Western treatment model Seeking Safety resulted in a reduction of intergenerational trauma (IGT) symptoms and substance use disorders (SUD). This article focuses on the Indigenous facilitators who were recruited and trained to conduct the sharing circles as part of the research effort. We describe the six-day training, which focused on the implementation of the Indigenous Healing and Seeking Safety model, as well as the impact the training had on the facilitators. Through the viewpoints and voices of the facilitators, we explore the growth and changes the training brought about for them, as well as their perception of how their changes impacted their clients.


Author(s):  
Ashleigh Elizabeth Mitchell ◽  
Trisia Farrelly ◽  
Robyn Andrews

This study of a remote Aboriginal community in Australia’s Northern Territory in 2014 sought to understand diabetes from a local Aboriginal perspective. Participants drew on a variety of holistic healing methods in the absence of an individual or individuals identified as holding a healing role in the community. The study offers an alternative to the common assumption that all communities can identify specific individuals as Aboriginal healers who are central to maintaining Aboriginal beliefs and wellbeing who contribute to holistic health (Clarke 2008; Maher 1999; McDonald 2006; Seathre 2013; Williams 2011). This research found the seven adult Aboriginal diabetes patients participating in the longitudinal ethnographic study actively engaged in self-healing strategies. Moreover, diabetes clinicians could combine local remedies and biomedical treatment to heal diabetes within the clinic, as well as actively engaging the patient in their own treatment, effective to reduce the symptoms and prevalence of diabetes in Aboriginal populations.


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