Chris Low Livres

In urban and rural communities of Namibia, the traditional healing practices of the Khoisan are prevalent. This study focuses on the essence of contemporary traditional medicine among this ethnic group while exploring how current practices reflect historical ones. The author emphasizes a conceptual approach, although practical aspects are intertwined. The research is grounded in extensive historical sources, including writings from travelers, settlers, officials, military personnel, missionaries, and ethnologists from the first settlement at the Cape in 1652 to the present. Through systematic analysis of these sources and insights gained from eight months of field research within Khoisan society, the author aims to identify key factors that shape our current understanding of Khoisan healing. Additionally, the study seeks to uncover weaknesses and misinterpretations in the Western perception of this medicine and offers suggestions for addressing these issues. The content includes chapters on various aspects of Khoisan healing, shamanism, and the roles of different healers in Namibia, culminating in a conclusion that ties together the findings. The author, Chris Low, is a postdoctorate at Oxford involved in research on the relationships between animals, Bushmen, and Bushman medicine.