Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) play a vital role in the utilization of natural resources, particularly in the realm of medicinal plants and divine healing practices, which, devoid of colonialism, would have evolved into its full economic potential. These Indigenous Knowledge Systems encompass traditional knowledge passed down through generations, offering insights into the healing properties of various plants and the spiritual practices associated with divine healing. Examining and lacing the themes on these systems within the Indigenous medical realm, the appropriation of medicinal plants from Indigenous communities in Africa by pharmaceutical industries using the Botanical Gardens and academia as apparatuses will be engaged. On a similar wavelength, this article sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the medicinal plants for economic activities of the BaThwa Nation in Ntabamnyama. It shines a spotlight on the BaThwa nation’s crucial contributions to wealth development and trading which attracted the foreigners to misappropriate. In many communities, the gathering, processing, and utilization of medicinal plants have become formalized, with practitioners offering remedies and treatments based on traditional wisdom. Similarly, divine healing practices, often rooted in spiritual beliefs and ceremonies, have become organized enterprises, with healers providing services to those seeking spiritual guidance and healing. Together, these aspects of IKS contribute to both the cultural heritage and economic activities of communities, highlighting the intricate relationship between traditional knowledge and natural resources.
This article delves into the economic activities of the BaThwa Nation in Ntabamnyama, highlighting their pivotal role in wealth development and trading, particularly in the production of medicinal plants and trade with external partners like Portuguese traders. It draws parallels between Ntabamnyama’s economic growth and the development of wealth, emphasizing the collaborative ecosystem present within the land which the BaThwa of Ntabamnyama Nation has been dispossessed.
Please send abstracts to lethizondo@gmail.com by March 14th.
