African Folklore: An Encyclopedia - Marshalls University

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easily treated by empirical remedies include the effects of the “evil eye.” The evil eye is
usually blamed for persistent health problems such as stomachache and stitch (hima,
rihima). Victims of diseases caused by personal agents seek treatment from people they
believe to have some supernatural powers. These specialists include diviners, oracles, and
seers. The basic role of such thearapists and curers, especially the herbal specialists, is
diagnostic. The specialists include the general traditional practitioners (ajuoga), diviners
(jodilo), and those who remove bewitchment medicine and other objects of the evil eye
from the patient’s stomach. Others include experts who propitiate evil spirits (jodilo) and
traditional specialists who can determine by scent where bad medicines are hidden or
buried (jamorieri) (Ocholla-Ayayo 1976).
The traditional herbal pharmacopoeia incorporates the treatment of conditions that the
local people associate with personal agents of illness causality. Among the Luo, there are
herbal remedies for sihoho, a syndrome believed to result from the bewitchment of
cooked food eaten in the presence of a special evil-eyed witch called jasihoho. This witch
is believed to have powers that cause indigestion, stomachache, and swellings of the
stomach and legs. To remedy this condition, pounded leaves of herbs, such as nyalwet
kwach, ohingla-thiang’, and olandra, are taken orally. The Luo and Luhyia also treat this
illness through incisions made to remove the objects of intrusion by using a suction pad
or the specialist’s mouth.
The Luhya, especially the Bukusu subgroup, also believe that body intrusion is
effected through bewitchment of food. Body intrusion techniques include the throwing of
harmful objects called ebilasila. Ebilasila consist of tiny objects such as hairs, bits of
grass, beans, bone splinters, and pieces of broken bottles. In the traditional Luhya belief
systems, such objects are mysteriously transmitted into the body of the witch’s victim.
When these objects have entered the victim’s body, they cause acute illnesses such as a
swollen stomach and cramps, accompanied by vomiting, intense headache, hot forehead,
and unbearable fever. Apart from herbal remedies and consulting valumiki (those who
specialize in suctioning foreign objects or illnesses from the stomach), the Luhyia treat
this condition through rituals and spells conducted by doctors and oracles or seers, whom
they believe have access to mystical powers to counter the effects of witches.
Naturally Caused Diseases and Illnesses
Traditional therapeutic practices in western Kenya are also based on beliefs and myths
about natural or environmental causes of illness. Some ailments are believed to result
from environmental pollution or emissions with harmful elements that alter the cosmic
equilibrium. Most of the people believe that when muya (bad air) is inhaled, illnesses
such as fever, thrush, flu, scabies, and nose bleeding may result. The local people
perceive changes in wind and weather patterns as ominous and disruptive to health also.
Among the Luo, yamo (boils) and skin diseases are believed to come with winds from
other places. Seasonal changes, environmental pollution, and contamination of the air are
traditionally associated with cosmic cycles among the Luo and Luhyia. These changes,
when accompanied by other natural occurrences such as rains, maturation of food crops,
and eclipses, have been associated by local peoples with invisible mystical powers that
are potentially dangerous.