Traditional muti

 The term “muti” finds it's roots in the Zulu word for 'tree' and it's use is widespread in African languages, it has been used as a slang term to refer to traditional African medicine.

Traditional African medicine makes use of many spiritually curative medicines which contain nothing more sinister than botanical properties, minerals and zoological composed formulas.

These medicines have been used to treat everything from headaches to kidney disease to high blood pressure and even sexual potency.

Many plant medicines recommended by traditional healers have proven correct when judged by western scientific methods. In fact, the global demand for African traditional medicines is increasing and with that increase is putting pressure on medicinal plant resources.

“Muti killings” (also called muthi killings or medicine murder) are instances of murder and mutilation in order to harvest body parts for incorporation as ingredients into medicine. They are not human sacrifice, nor are they religious in nature.

The victims, often very young or elderly (male or female) are most often killed for their soft tissue; eyelids, lips, scrota and labia though entire limbs have been severed; many while the victims are still alive since their screams are supposed to enhance the medicines power.

It is said to be believed that medicines made from these killings will increase ones ability to excel in business or politics, improve agriculture or protect against war.

Though it is difficult to find precise statistics on muti killings, the earliest documentation appears to be in the 1800's with an increase in incidences occurring during times of economic and political stress.

This is observable during the 1990's when South Africa was experiencing significant political strife (legal end of apartheid), at this time opportunistic assassinations of political opponents were deemed muti killings.

Many believe that these killings were, at least in some instances, politically sanctioned at the local level. Mutilation of corpses in medical facilities has also been attributed to muti.

While the western propaganda machine would lead those who don't know to believe that African traditional healers are practitioners of witchcraft, it is important to note that African belief does not encourage or condone witchcraft, it merely accepts that witchcraft exists in Africa; the same way that a particular religion does not support or condone adultery, but must accept that some of it's practitioners partake in it.

As in any religion, people set up their own concept of what it means to live in harmony with their philosophy and find ways to excuse their evil.

This is evident in religions around the world; the Pope who blessed the soldiers that Mussolini sent into Ethiopia to slaughter Africans for their land and Columbus to perform genocide on the Native Americans and Indians on the Caribbean Islands, Israel taking Palestinian land and placing people in refugee camps because God says it's their land etc. African religion is no exception, and it is possible if one goes looking to find unethical and unsavory behavior.

However, it is important to understand that making a connection between muti killings and African traditional healing is the exception to the rule, especially since the employment of a traditional healer is not always necessary.

As with all things traditionally African, we must learn from the past, build on it and carry it forward for continued growth.

Keeping in mind that with the introduction of commerce in the form of paper money, many of these traditions have been corrupted and there is no shortage of characters who will take advantage of believers by claiming to have the power to heal or fend off spiritual attacks.

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