By Gofaone Motsamai and Phenyo Mokgothu

Cannabis is much more than a plant for South Africa’s traditional healers; it is part of a spiritual practice and a tool for healing in our communities, according to five postgraduate students from the North-West University’s (NWU) Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

They presented their research at the Maiden Annual International Conference on Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Restorative Development in Africa. The conference, held from 20 to 22 May 2025 in Entebbe, Uganda, brought together scholars and practitioners to explore the role of indigenous knowledge in sustainable development.

The Institute of African Studies and the Africa Indigenous Knowledge Research Network (AIKRN) hosted the conference, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.

Homing in on Magogoe Village

The NWU delegation consisted of Phimelo Segooa, Busi Sebea, Masego Segapo, Welile Kunene and Tlamelo Lekwene from the Mahikeng Campus. They presented a paper exploring the knowledge and use of cannabis among traditional health practitioners (THPs) in Magogoe Village, located in South Africa’s North West Province.

Their research highlighted that although cannabis has long been used around the world for its fibrous properties, in South Africa, THPs have traditionally used the plant for medicinal, spiritual and ritual purposes. The study aimed to document how THPs understand and apply cannabis in their healing practices and to examine the challenges they face in doing so.

Using an exploratory design grounded in Indigenous Wholistic Theory, the researchers conducted qualitative interviews and a focus group with 12 THPs. The findings reveal that THPs rely heavily on ancestral knowledge and lived experience to guide their use of cannabis. However, this knowledge is rarely documented and remains largely oral.

“Traditional health practitioners are custodians of generations of knowledge that’s passed down through experience and ancestral instruction,” said Sebea. “What we found is that cannabis is much more than a plant – it’s part of a spiritual practice and a tool for healing in our communities.”

Receiving guidance from ancestors

The study found that THPs use cannabis to treat a variety of illnesses and often administer it according to spiritual instructions from ancestors. Preparation and cultivation methods vary widely and are closely tied to individual practitioners’ beliefs and rituals.

“This research taught us that indigenous knowledge is sophisticated and rooted in cultural identity,” said Segapo. “It must be preserved and integrated into broader conversations about healthcare and policy.”

The study contributes to broader discussions on the role of traditional knowledge in health and development policy, and calls for more inclusive research approaches that respect and incorporate indigenous worldviews.

Postgraduate students who presented at the at the Maiden Annual International Conference