In Africa, bewitchment is described as a moral framework that helps individuals and societies make sense out of disease and misfortune. Numerous African belief systems attribute difficult-to-treat health problems to bewitchment, rather than a conventional medical diagnosis, especially if biomedical doctors are unable to resolve the condition. This study examines one such illness, known as xifula, in rural Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Using convenience sampling, 95 participants (≥18 years old) were interviewed to gauge their knowledge of the condition known as xifula. Data was analysed using NVivo software.

Xifula is a cultural concept of distress related to bewitchment. The most common symptom of xifula is swelling of the legs or hands, followed by chronic headaches. Participants noted that xifula can start as a minor ailment, but then grows into a larger problem. After a long period without healing, however, xifula can begin to represent a significant threat to the individual’s health. Nearly all participants noted that xifula cannot be treated by Western biomedical professionals and instead requires a traditional healer to treat the condition.

This research highlights the importance of context-specific education about the diagnosis and treatment of common ailments, as beliefs about afflictions, their causes, and appropriate treatments suggest a need for tailored information. As biomedical and traditional healthcare currently exist as parallel, siloed structures of diagnosis and treatment in Africa, there should also be efforts to bridge the divide between the two.

This study was funded by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation.