The Importance Of Traditional Medicine In Nigeria

Today Nigeria still has social, political, religious, cultural, and economic problems, but they aren’t as serious as before, still, some problems are decreasing in the society, there are new ones or/and some problems are

Nigeria lies on the Atlantic coast of central Africa and is bordered by Niger and Chad to the north, Benin to the west and Cameroon to the south. The country covers an area of area of 356,669 square miles, twice the size of California, with more than 120 million people. Nigeria has the largest population of any African country and is the world's tenth largest country; it will be the seventh largest by 2025. The peopling of Nigeria has been much influenced by geography. There are several geographic zones that affected such things as access, population density, subsistence strategies (for example, fishing, farming, or pastoralism), and social organization.

Nigeria is a very big country with very diverse culture. There are 36 states in Nigeria,

Medicine, in westernized societies, draws upon scientific formulas and is used to treat illnesses and diseases of the physical health. What is taken for granted, pharmaceutically, in these societies is not so in others. Alternative methods of healing are used in cultures that either do not have access to this type of medicine or choose to treat illnesses on the basis of their spiritual and religious beliefs. Focusing specifically on Yoruba culture and religion, traditional healing practices are an integral part of their society. Quote on their importance of having good physical health. Spiritual health, as well, is an important aspect of Yoruba culture. To westernized cultures, this form of healing can sometimes be perceived as ineffective and insignificant to orthodox medicine (western perception of natural healing will be discussed further in this paper); however, to the people of this religion, healing on the basis of natural elements is a positive and essential process to living a fulfilled life. This paper will be exploring Yoruba traditional healing practices both physically and spiritually. As well, the specific Yoruba deities associated with health and herbal medicine will be discussed.

Nigeria is a country that has a lot of historic cultures and empires. Nigeria goes back as far as the 5th century BC. During the 9th century the trading empire grows up around Lake Chad. Which then became the center of Nigeria. Its original center is east of the lake, in the Kanem region, but it soon extends to Bornu on the western side. In the 11th century the ruler of Kanem-Bornu converted to Islam. West of Bornu, is where Hausa people reign. They were placed in the right place so that they could control trade with the forest regions to the south. The Hausa develop a number of small but stable kingdoms, each ruled from a strong walled city. In the savanna grasslands and the forest regions west of the Niger, between the Hausa kingdoms and

CULTURE COMPARISON IN NIGERIA WITHIN THREE IGBO SPEAKING LANDS AND (YORUBA) LAND. Nigeria is a west African country with over 180 million people. It consist of 3 known ethnic groups, igbo’s, Hausa’s , and the Yoruba’s. The igbo’s (Biafrans) are known as Christians, the hausa’s are known as muslims and the yoruba’s are mixed Christians and muslims. However in this three ethnic groups there’s so much cultural, language and morality differences.

As accounted by many, “Traditional healers often act, in part, as an intermediary between the visible and invisible worlds; between the living and the dead or ancestors, sometimes to determine which spirits are at work and how to bring the sick person back into harmony with their ancestors” (Abdullahi ¶ 3). This provides the emotional and spiritual depth of traditional medical practitioners, as they truly make an effort to connect patients to their community even if they are severely ill (Abdullahi ¶ 3). Finally, the Igbo tribe held many secret societies, including instruction in medicine, that held both secular and religious functions and allowed inducted community members to learn about its origins (“Cults and Rituals” 284). This further establishes their connection of religion to medicine, as secret societies may teach medicine to members in a religious setting. Therefore, when Igbo medical practitioners practiced medicine before colonization, they incorporated many aspects of their religion, including, but not limited to, sorcery and divination, as they have for many years.

     Nigeria has been a country in political turmoil for a long time. The country was created in 1914 under British colonial rule and at that time it was considered a protectorate. It was not until 1960 that Nigeria received independence from the United Kingdom. One of Nigeria's problems politically is that it has over three hundred different ethnic groups. The three largest of these are the Hausa-Fulani, Igbo, and Yoruba. At the time of the independence of Nigeria it was split up into three states with each state being under the control of one of the major ethnic groups. The natural resources of the other 297 ethnic groups were exploited for the major three groups,

The practice of traditional medicine among the people of Nigeria in the Western region of Africa transcends the advent of Bio-Medicine and occupies a prominent position in the delivery of health care.

the North Region of Nigeria. While Muslims can be found in all parts of Nigeria, their strongest footholds are among the Hausa and the Yoruba. The Igbo Christians in the North were not likeable. The Muslims wanted to start the Sharia law in some areas whereas Christians would not stand for it. There were many tensions between the two religions. The people from both religions to their faith very serious and if anyone tried to disturb them then it was war.

Before we begin, let’s take a look at the country and its environs. Nigeria a former British Colony, located in the western part of Africa, it shares borders with Benin, Cameroun, and Niger. A growing population of 150million, labour force of 51million (70% Agriculture, 10% industry and 20% service), urbanisation is less than 40%, GDP is over $300billion, Per capita income is $2300. Nigeria is blessed with different cultures, languages and ethnic groups (252 in total); this was due to the colonization of the British in the early 19th century (Columbia Encyclopaedia). The British amalgamated its protectorates in 1914 to enable stable control and governance which made them create one Nation of Nigeria formed from all the groups, community and empires around the Niger area under their control. Nigeria had her independence on the 1st of October 1960 and since then various civil wars, political and religious unrest in the country to share power and resources amicably.

With that being said, Nigeria has the most empires and historic cultures than any other nation in Africa, dating back to the fifth century B.C. (History of Nigeria). With this being said, religion did not really come into the picture until around the 11th century, when the Kanem-Bornu leader converts to Islam (History of Nigeria). This sparks a change throughout all of Nigeria. Many others begin to follow in his footsteps and many tribes, including the Hausa, convert to Islam by around the 14th century (History of Nigeria). Since then, missionaries and many other influences have shifted the religious views. Currently, in Nigeria, the population is about 50 percent Muslim and 50 percent Christian and it will continue to

Nigeria is small in relation to the United States of America while still being the 32nd largest nation in the world. Despite its size Nigeria has a population of 190,632,261, according to The World Factbook (2017), which is the seventh largest in the world. The President of Nigeria is

Traditional medicine or commonly called herbal medicine is used for all different various types of unscientific knowledge systems used within several cultures ever since the beginning of mankind. Sometimes, it is also referred as folk medicine, mainly owing to the fact that it was progressively developed over a lot of generations. Studies shows that there are still certain areas of the world, especially in Africa and Asia where 80% of the population still relies on herbal medicine practices in lieu of most of their primary health needs. It is also used in the Western civilizations but it may occasionally lead to certain health risks in circumstances when it is not used properly.

Nigeria uses a healthcare system known as the pluralistic system where there is the involvement of both the public and the private sector (Skolnik, Richard L (2016). The federal government takes charge of mostly university Teaching Hospital and Federal Medical Center while the State and Local Government is responsible for Dispensaries or Primary health care regulated by federal government. The private sectors in the country are largely involved in delivering health care services as well. Looking into the healthcare system building block, Nigeria healthcare system is poorly build with no developed, adequate and functional health system to achieve success in their healthcare system in this modern era (Welcome, M. O. (2011). The country is underserved when it comes