Mphutungwane Traditional Healing & Consultation

I have arranged a workshop which will look at Medicinal Plants and their propogation. This is to take place at the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens in Poortview (off Hendrik Potgieter Road).  Date: 18 May 2010 starting at 9am.  The cost is R50 which is to provide for refreshments and stationery.  On sale will be a book entitled "Knowing and Growing Muti" by Nicci Diedrichs et al for R30.

Balance is an essential part of harmony in African spirituality.  In Isizulu, we refer to ukuhlanganisa amadlozi.  This is an important aspect of achieving peace in one's self, in the home, between couples and families.  It becomes even more so when one has strong amadlozi who are looking after you.  This is similar to the CHinese concept of Yin and Yang, in that we each have both masculine and feminine energies within us and they need to be in balance.  If they are not in balance, there is no peace and harmony and you can see this in different aspects of your life.

As Izinyanga, we are wholly dependant on the natural wealth of plants and animals for our healing.  We use plants to make medicines for our patients.  Unfortunately, almost all of these plants are harvested from the wild. The numbers of Izinyanga as well as people that use the medicines are growing at a much faster rate than the rate at which these plants and trees are regrowing in the wild.  This is why there are certain slower growing plants and trees which are becoming more difficult to find in the wild as they face extinction.  Animals are also facing the same problem, with the added stress of loss of natural habitat resulting in ever declining stocks and species. 

I drive past MTN when taking my kids to school and today I saw that their employees are all wearing yellow and white t-shrits written Africa United.  I liked that.  For me it is a timely reminder to the fact that this World Cup is meant to be an African World Cup, not just a South African affair.  We say it's an African World Cup, but what have we done to promote it locally and throughout Africa as such?  We pay lip service to this ideal of brotherhood that we share with all peoples of African decent.