Healing Beyond Biomedicine: Medical Anthropology and the Role of Traditional Healers in Sudan

Abstract

Traditional healers remain central to healthcare in many African societies, including Sudan, where up to 80% of the population seek their guidance. These practitioners— ranging from herbalists and spirit mediums to Islamic healers like Fugara (Qur’anic healers) and sheikhs—offer care rooted in cultural traditions, social ties, and spiritual beliefs. Despite this, they are often marginalized by biomedical practitioners and viewed with suspicion because of concerns about safety, lack of standardization, and delays in seeking biomedical treatment. This article presents a more nuanced understanding of traditional healing through the lens of medical anthropology, which highlights cultural contexts, symbolic healing, explanatory models, and medical pluralism. In Sudan, where formal health systems have been weakened by conflict and resource limitations, the importance of traditional healers becomes particularly evident. Medical anthropology offers qualitative tools—such as ethnographic methods— to understand the lived experiences and health-seeking behaviors of individuals navigating multiple healthcare systems. The paper also critiques the power dynamics between Western biomedical systems and indigenous knowledge, discussing collaborative, culturally sensitive approaches rather than imposed interventions. Recent research challenges simple narratives about traditional healing, illustrating that access is not always based on cost or availability but on deeper social and symbolic meanings. Ultimately, the article suggests integrating traditional healers as partners in health care, not as competitors or obstacles.