Traditional Female Swahili Healer
The Swahili’s beliefs about spirits are complex and vary depending on the location and tribe. Some are influenced by Middle Eastern concepts and Islamic beliefs depending on their level of Islamic training, literacy or religious tolerance of the spirit world. The main distinctions in spirit typology are whether the spirit is Muslim or pagan, and whether it’s from the coast or the interior of East Africa. The spirits can be further divided into different groups, which are often the focus of specific spirit possession cults. Although most spirits are harmless, there are some that can enter into humans and cause illness, bad luck, barrenness or other misfortunes. Relationships with spirits can take two different forms; either possession or association. Often, these relationships begin unintentionally or as a result of inheritance. This spirit is said to “climb” into the person and often first manifests itself as an illness. Once this happens it is up to a spirit medium or healer to diagnose the spirit and either exorcise it or placate it. People can also enter into spirit cults to protect themselves from this possibility or seek help once this happens. Because spirits are seen as the ultimate cause of disease and illness among the Swahili, it is the spirit mediums that are viewed as traditional healers within the culture.
*The map in the top right corner depicts the community location of the Swahili people
