Rational Myths and Mythical Rationalities in Rural Articulations of Illness: A theoretical overview and case study of Mbulu-Hanang, northern Tanzania, Circa 1900 to the Present
No Thumbnail Available
Date
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
Description
That local narratives and oral discourses constitute important source materials for
the reconstruction of histories of illness and healing in rural Africa is a widely
accepted fact. What continues to attract much discussion in the humanities and
social sciences, however, is the question of how such narratives relate to the reality
they articulate, and whether knowledge implied in popular oral articulations
generally has any efficacy to talk of. These concerns are by no means new. Yet
their relevance persists, partly because of the need to continue the battle for
theoretical clarity and partly because the varying positions in the debate have
profound policy implications
Keywords
Rational Myths, Mythical Rationalities, Rural Articulations, Illness, theoretical overview, Mbulu-Hanang, Northern Tanzania, Circa, 1900