Скачать или смотреть The Business of Muthi & the Ecosystem of African Traditional Medicine:

Thokozani. Sanibonani. Namaste. Good afternoon.
My name is Mpho Roberta Masondo, also known as Gogo Hopane Masekela.
As I stand before you, I remember the words of Maya Angelou:
"I come as one, but I stand as ten thousand."
When I stand here, I am not alone. I walk with a thousand generations whose blood runs through my being.
What is African Traditional Medicine?
African Traditional Medicine—or ATM—is not just an alternative to Western healthcare.
It is one of the oldest, most comprehensive healing systems in the world.
What is Umuthi?
Umuthi, a word in isiZulu and isiXhosa, translated as “medicine.” But it means far more.
It is plants, roots, barks, herbs, minerals. It is also Ancestral Intelligence activated through ritual, intention, and knowledge.
Umuthi is not just a plant in a packet. It is a language. A prayer. A ritual. And it is also an economy.
How does Umuthi shape our lives?
Umuthi walks with us from birth to death.
Before conception, fertility-enhancing remedies like imvusa nkunzi or bangalala.
After birth, protective medicines safeguard the child.
During initiation, umuthi grounds young people and connects them to ancestors.
At death, even in sudden, violent deaths such as car accidents there are medicines and rituals to fetch the spirit, ensuring the soul returns home instead of wandering.
At each stage, impepho is burned to guide and protect. Its smoke reminds us: we come from the earth, and we will return to it. Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust.
What kinds of Imithi exist?
Traditionally, muthi is classified into three sacred categories:
Imithi Emhlophe (White Muthi) – cleansing, purification, ancestral connection
Imithi Ebomvu (Red Muthi) – healing trauma and blood-related imbalances
Imithi Emnyama (Black Muthi) – transformative, powerful, dependent on intention
UMuthi is neither good nor bad in itself. It reflects the hand, heart, and intention of the person.
How big is the traditional medicine economy?
According to the World Health Organization, more than 80% of Africans rely on traditional medicine as primary healthcare.
In South Africa:
27 million people use umuthi
200,000 healers serve communities, compared to 35,000 doctors
The sector is worth more than R2.9 billion annually
Over 133,000 jobs depend on it
This is not a side industry. It is central to how we live and heal.
How does muthi move from soil to spirit?
The value chain is as complex as any modern industry:
Sourcing & Cultivation – wild-harvested, sometimes farmed for high demand species
Harvesting – often women and elders, balancing sustainable vs. destructive methods
Processing – dried, boiled, powdered, blended with oils or fats
Trade & Distribution – from rural harvesters to urban markets like Faraday and Warwick
Cross-Border Trade – into Southern Africa and global markets
Healing & Use – finally reaching homes, sacred spaces, and ceremonies

What is the role of exports and globalisation?
South Africa exports rooibos, aloe ferox, sceletium, and more. They are sold as teas, oils, and supplements—often stripped of their spiritual meaning.
And then there is cannabis—insangu—used for generations in traditional medicine. Today it is a billion-rand legal export crop, yet traditional healers are often excluded.
We must ask:
Who holds the knowledge? Who gets the license? Who benefits?
What challenges does the ecosystem face?
Overharvesting and biodiversity loss
Lack of regulation, leading to safety and quality concerns
Exclusion from national health systems
Marginalisation of healers in policy
Loss of indigenous knowledge through secrecy, modernisation, and stigma
What opportunities can we unlock?
Community-owned farms for medicinal plants
Ethical, regulated trade systems that protect biodiversity
Youth training in indigenous healing and pharmacology
Integration of healers into public health
Protection of intellectual property and benefit sharing
What future do we imagine for Umuthi?
Picture a South Africa where:
Clinics and healing centres stand side by side
Schools teach about both pathology and impepho
Policies protect both vaccines and sacred plants
Traditional healers are certified, respected, supported by the department of health
This is not a dream. It is already happening for example
In Ghana, over 30 public hospitals now offer traditional medicine services.
In Uganda, traditional healing is recognized and protected by law.
In Zimbabwe, students can now earn a degree in traditional medicine.
Closing
We are sitting on a goldmine of healing. Let us heal, teach, and trade with the wisdom of our ancestors and the innovation of our future.
As Credo Mutwa once said: “We are the ancestors of tomorrow.”
That means how we honour and protect muthi today will shape the wellness of our children’s children. Siyabonga. Ke a leboga. Thank you