Interrogating African Igbo Holistic Health Through Indigenous Medicine and Christian Healing

Abstract

Whenever the issue of healing in African indigenous religion and Christianity is discussed, it trumps up series of problems in relation to the understanding of healing in Africa Igbo society. Although it may appear initially that both practices in relation to the sick are the same, a deeper insight reveals a bitter/sharp disagreement on their methods of operation. To a larger extent the two do not agree. Amongst the practitioners of Christian healing, African indigenous medicine involves the institutionalization of idolatry and necromancy. Conversely, the African indigenous medicine sees Christian healing advocates as hypocrites whose ulterior aim is to extort and exploit the sick and the vulnerable in the society. This paper attempts a dismantling of this sharp disagreement while making a finding that African indigenous medicine and Christian healing jointly provide succor to the sick through the interplay of the natural and the supernatural vital forces.

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