Healing and Anointing Among The Ewe of Southern Togo: A Pastoral Challenge
Date
2002-02
Authors
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Publisher
Tangaza University College.
Abstract
Within any human society, the question of healing is a crucial one. Health is a major
concern for all. The longing for healing has been a universal human desire. In Africa
particularly, where people are very often exposed to all sorts of diseases, the search for
cures is an important part of the struggle for survival. Sickness is thus seen as a threat to
health. Naturally, people have developed different methods in fighting sickness. Western
scientific medicine has made undoubted progress, which enables people to enjoy a longer
average life expectation than in earlier times. kvidence of efforts to maintain health and
to overcome diseases in order to prevent untimely death can be found in all cultures
everywhere. The Ewe people of southern Togo have also developed different ways of
fighting sickness. Among them, sickness is seen as an attack that disturbs the harmony
between human beings, the cosmos and Clod. A person declares himself or hersLii. sick in
relation to the representation that he or she has of health and this is largely a cultural
matter. As Ugueux points out, there is a construction and a cultural representation of
sickness as a social phenomenon.' The Sacrament of healing which also has its own
structure according to the Catholic Church, does not follow the same process as found in
the traditional setting. For Christians, this Sacrament is provided to strengthen the sick
and bring them healing and forgiveness. Are Christians satisfied with the Sacrament of
Anointing of the Sick when they still have to bear in mind what the healing process
involves for them in the traditional sense? flow can both processes be reconciled so that people do not feel lost when they have to go through the process of healing according to
their Christian faith?
Description
Keywords
Healing, Anointing, Ewe, Togo, Pastoral, Challenge