The Oshun Festival: An African Traditional Religious Healing Process

Abstract

This article examines the Oshun Festival—an African traditional religious festival—from a healing perspective. In it, the value of religion in the African culture is highlighted and the various myths that abound therein are discussed. The article concludes with suggestions for counseling practice.

We Are Therefore I Am: A Psycho-Cosmos Counseling Model for Black Africans

“…Some Western family therapists work with the client to reconnect with their community, others bring groups of people together to create a pseudo community and others use rituals to engage the entire family in a process that illuminates family problems and potential family solutions (Imber-Black & Roberts, 1998). In both contexts, the goals are similar, such as dispelling myths and creating family unity (Idowu, 1992;Nichols & Schwartz, 2002). Recognizing that the problem belongs not only to the individual but also to the family is vital for healing to take place and is fundamental to many Western family therapy practices.…”

“…Illness, mental or physical, has a communal dimension; it is never taken for granted that a person just becomes sick (Idowu, 1992). An explanation must be sought.…”

“…The deeply rooted belief among indigenous black Africans is that the cosmos should at all times be harmonious and balanced. Mental or physical illness is not viewed as an individual phenomenon but rather as something that disrupts the harmony and balance of the entire community (Idowu, 1992).…”

Counseling in an Enlightened Society: Values for a New Millennium

“…In countries with ancient cultures people have for centuries found guidance to resolve challenges outside of what would be considered formal counseling with trained professionals. Consistent among these methods of helping is the recognition of the interconnectedness of human beings and their physical and spiritual worlds (Idowu, 1992;Lee, Oh, & Mountcastle, 1992;Vontress, 1991). Within the framework of an enlightened world society therefore, counselors need to enlist strategies consistent with this holistic view of mental health intervention.…”

“…This vision of society has also been strongly influenced by investigations of the status of counseling as a profession throughout the world (Idowu, 1992;Lee, Oh, & Mountcastle, 1992;Vontress, 1991). The data from these investigations suggest that a new world order is truly developing.…”