Gold 2017 / Science / Medicine

The Mystic Healers

  • Photographer
    Simone Tramonte
  • Prizes
    Gold in Science/Medicine, 1st place winner in Science

The World Health Organization estimates that 80% of the African population uses traditional medicine to meet their needs for primary health care. The African continent is a tangle of people suspended between respect for tradition and the desire for modernity, but to ancient beliefs, the roots, those remain. In Africa, feticheurs, sorcerers and healers are not extinguished. Mysticism and magic, along with a healthy dose of superstition, are the other face of a continent that, despite everything, does not abandon its ancient past. The locals regardless of their religion or social background when needed prefer to go to traditional healer rather than a doctor.