UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF RITUALS IN HEALING: A CASE STUDY OF "NYA" HEALING AMONG THE FRAFRA IN GHANA

Abstract

This paper reports an investigation on the role of rituals in healing with particular reference to "Nya" healing among the Frafra of Ghana. It examines Frafra self understanding of sickness, symptoms, diagnosis and healing represented in "kaaba" as part of a larger effort toward the understanding of indigenous knowledge on healing and well being. It hypothesizes that the interpretive functions of the indigenous mythic world with all its symbolic representations is a central focus to understanding the role of rituals in the efficacy of healing among the Frafra. "Kaaba" as a concept is the social and cultural devise of identification, association, and interpretation of "symbolic images, and events and indeed the reason d'etre of life in a given community that shares the mythic world. It enables persons to experience well being in all its totality.