African Traditional Medicine Day 2015 |01 September 2015

Exhibition showcases medicinal virtues of the coconut tree

Members of the public wishing to learn about the medicinal virtues of the coconut tree can do so in an exhibition being held at the National Cultural Centre (National Library building).

The opening yesterday of the exhibition, which is showcasing the healing powers of our coconut, coincided with the African Traditional Medicine Day which is celebrated on August 31 every year since 2003.

The exhibition has been organised by the National Heritage Research and Protection Section (NHRPS) and it will remain open to the public until the end of September.

The exhibition this year is being held under the theme ‘Tree of life: medicinal virtues of the coconut tree’.

The significance of African Traditional Medicine Day is to raise awareness of the critical role that traditional medicine plays in improving people’s health.

Seychelles started to celebrate this day in 2011, with a different topic each year and all the previous exhibits are also being featured this year.

Sophia Rosalie, a research officer of the NHRPS, highlighted the importance of celebrating that aspect of our traditional heritage and of the African knowledge system.

“NHRPS is working hard to put forward the intangible cultural heritage through raising awareness eventhough people no longer use these methods. It’s better to disseminate the information so that people don’t forget and this will especially benefit the younger generation,” she said.

She also said the exhibition is being held at the National Library for the first time rather than at their section at La Bastille because they wanted to bring it closer to town so as to attract more people.

Heritage books, medicinal plants and other traditional medicinal products are on sale by heritage professionals and herbalists.

Two of the herbalists present are Marie-Andrée Contoret and Jeamie Dogley.

Mrs Contoret has been a herbalist for eight years and she specialises in the medicinal properties of the noni (‘bwa torti’). The scientific name is morinda citrifolia.

Whereas Mr Dogley has been passionate about herbal and medicinal plants for about 20 years.

Those who want to learn about the medicinal rituals and practices of Seychelles, or our traditional herbal teas can visit the exhibition.

Other traditional implements as well as plants are also on sale