This study examines the long-established bi-weekly market held on Cape Town's Grand Parade to see if it constitutes living heritage. If it does, how is it connected with the urban landscape it inhabits, and how might it be acknowledged or safeguarded? Heritage practice in South Africa has long focused on the fabric of the historic built environment (not on the people using it or the uses to which it is put) with conservation methods tailored to that end. The importance of living heritage—or intangible cultural heritage—is increasingly accepted, particularly as a form of redress for the imbalance caused by the prioritisation of coloniser history. There is a growing sense of urgency, driven by those whose living heritage has been overlooked or ignored, to address this. In this study, I combine on-the-ground analysis of today's Wednesday/Saturday market drawn from interviews with traders, with a deep reading of various official and academic archives. This is interpreted through the most recent theoretical thinking regarding living heritage, together with the international charters, national laws and local policies that apply to the real world of Cape Town today. I determine that the market is, indeed, living heritage, and that it is important to recognise it is such. I argue that the heritage binary of intangible and tangible represents a false dichotomy, and that it is essential to consider heritage as a whole, with living heritage being indivisible from the urban landscape in which it exists. However, I identify the potential pitfalls that formal protection might bring to a living, dynamic system, and find that the significance values of tangible and living heritage require different actions to conserve and safeguard them. I show how, while the will to identify and acknowledge South Africa's living heritage has been expressed at the highest policy levels, the ensuing legislation, implementation policies and working practices of heritage practitioners are insufficient to deliver on this. I suggest that, to reflect this better in our management of heritage resources, a more trans-disciplinary approach is needed, one with processes and methodologies that accommodate diversity in the interpretation of cultural value and emphasise stakeholder involvement.

En occupant un espace social privilégié, la médecine traditionnelle et les diverses pratiques qui y sont liées, sont de moins en moins marginalisées, de plus en plus admises comme ressources et la société leur devient du même coup permissive. La tolérance sociale est relativement forte ». Cette lecture de la situation de la médecine traditionnelle et de sa réception dans la société est celle de l’anthropologue et médecine martiniquais M. Yoyo. Elle évoque la réalité de la médecine créole dans l’espace antillais et dit l’intérêt que lui portent ceux qui en font usage.L’objectif de cette recherche est de poser la question de la transmission du savoir médicinal en contexte martiniquais : transmission des tradipraticiens vers les profanes ; transmission entre professionnels de cette médecine. Autrement dit comment se fait l’apprentissage si apprentissage il y a, de ce savoir traditionnel, jalousement gardé par ceux qui l’exercent ? La dimension magico-religieuse de ce savoir influe-t-elle sur sa transmission ? Quel est le rôle de la famille dans l’éducation et la transmission de ces pratiques ? Quelle est la connaissance profane accessible à tous et que détiennent certaines familles ? Celle-ci répond-elle aux attentes de la médecine traditionnelle et comment les familles procèdent-elles à sa transmission ? Quelle contribution l’institution scolaire apporte-t-elle à la sauvegarde de ce patrimoine ? Ce questionnement nous amène à nous interroger sur les pratiques en matière de médecine des Martiniquais et à considérer la coexistence entre savoir traditionnel et savoir rationnel dit moderne.On ne peut faire l’économie de ces analyses si on veut appréhender de façon objective le problème de la transmission de la médecine créole, de sa sauvegarde par – et pour – les générations montantes, en raison de l’aspect mémoriel de cette pratique thérapeutique mais également en raison de son efficacité et du potentiel important qu’elle représente pour la santé dans les années qui viennent. / By occupying a privileged social space, traditional medicine and the diverses practices related to the field are less and less marginalized, more and more accepted as resources, thus society is gradually becoming more tolerant towards those practices. The social tolerance is relatively strong”. This perception of the present situation of traditional medicine and of its reception in society is proposed by M. Yoyo, French anthropologist and physician from Martinique. It speaks of the reality of traditional medicine in the west Indians context and highlights the positive affects on those who make use of it. The objective of this research is to explore the question of the transmission of medicinal knowledge within the confines of Martinique: transmission by traditionalists towards nonprofessionals as well as transmission among professionals in the fields of medicine. In other words, what learning, if any, still exists of this traditional knowledge faithfully kept by those practiced it? To what extent does the magical-religious experience influence the transmission of this knowledge? What is the role of the family in the education and the transmission of those practices? How much of this profane knowledge is accessible to all and to what extent is it practiced by families? Does the latter respond to the demands of traditional medicine? How do families proceed with the process of transmission. What contribution does the school make towards preserving this tradition ? The above questions provoke reflection on the medicinal practices of the people of Martinique and of the possible coexistence of traditional knowledge and modern or rational knowledge. These questions are inevitable if we want to progress with objectivity in the transmission of Creole medicine and of its preservation for future generations, as a form of safeguarding the memory of this therapeutic practice. However, they also help to focus on the level of its effectiveness and the potential importance that it represents in ensuring a healthy environment in the coming years.

AbstractThis final essay in religious studies at Malmö Lärarutbildningen (Teacher’s education) is a minor field study (MFS) carried out in Ghana about Trokosi. Trokosi is a tradition, system and practice where young girls are given to village shrine priests as sexual and domestic slaves, or "wives of the gods", in compensation for offenses allegedly committed by a member of the girl's family. My main research question has been: What are the thoughts of the victims as well as the rescuers of Trokosi thoughts about the Trokosi tradition, system and practice? The thesis is based on a minor field study, observations and interviews. I observed the work at International Needs Network Ghana (INNG) and their work with Trokosi mainly focusing on the International Needs Vocational Training Centre (INVTC). At INVTC former Trokosi get the opportunity of becoming independence and self-sufficient - ke te pam tem eng. In this essay I have interviewed two opponents to Trokosi, in this essay called the rescuers, as well as one victim of Trokosi. In my interviews, the only person who criticized the theory and the religion behind Trokosi was the victim, a person who was born into this belief system. INNG’s critics are not about the theory behind Trokosi but how it is practised. Applying of feminist perspective this thesis focuses religious and cultural practices, in this case Trokosi, as a part of a larger system that is limiting women’s lives. In addition, post colonial theory may contribute to the analysis of “third world women’s own struggle and aspiration for independence. There are different views and perspectives on Trokosi and despite Ghana’s constitution and other documents that forbid this type of practice it is still vital. This indicates that there are more factors to consider. For instance overall patriarchal structures and post colonial experiences. Information and education is essential for the transformation of Trokosi in order to favour women’s right especially in the fields of human- and women’s rights.

No description available.

The practise of male traditional circumcision is severely challenged with enormous problems ranging from hospitalisation of the initiates as well as deaths of the initiates. The background of the problem is focused in the Eastern Cape Province where the researcher has noted several initiates being treated in hospitals for physical and as well for psychological problems. The objective of this study was to explore and describe newly initiated Xhosa men's experiences of traditional circumcision rites at East London in the Eastern Cape Province and to describe the guidelines for support of these newly initiated Xhosa men by public health professionals. A qualitative explorative, descriptive contextual and phenomenological design was followed. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the participants. Fourteen participants volunteered to participate in the study after they met the eligible criteria. Focused group interviews were used as a method for data collection. Data analysis of the study showed that there are several factors affecting newly initiated men whilst undergoing circumcision rites. These factors can present at any of the three circumcision stages i.e. pre-circumcision, peri-circumcision and post-circumcision. The recommendations of the study strongly suggest a cultural competence in rendering effective health care services to culturally and ethnically diverse clients. All the five constructs of cultural competence are entailed in the support guidelines that have been developed by the researcher. They are cultural awareness, cultural knowledge, cultural skill, cultural encounter and cultural desire. Finally limitation of the study and the need for a further research has been clearly stated. / Health Studies / M.A.

The practise of male traditional circumcision is severely challenged with enormous problems ranging from hospitalisation of the initiates as well as deaths of the initiates. The background of the problem is focused in the Eastern Cape Province where the researcher has noted several initiates being treated in hospitals for physical and as well for psychological problems. The objective of this study was to explore and describe newly initiated Xhosa men's experiences of traditional circumcision rites at East London in the Eastern Cape Province and to describe the guidelines for support of these newly initiated Xhosa men by public health professionals. A qualitative explorative, descriptive contextual and phenomenological design was followed. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the participants. Fourteen participants volunteered to participate in the study after they met the eligible criteria. Focused group interviews were used as a method for data collection. Data analysis of the study showed that there are several factors affecting newly initiated men whilst undergoing circumcision rites. These factors can present at any of the three circumcision stages i.e. pre-circumcision, peri-circumcision and post-circumcision. The recommendations of the study strongly suggest a cultural competence in rendering effective health care services to culturally and ethnically diverse clients. All the five constructs of cultural competence are entailed in the support guidelines that have been developed by the researcher. They are cultural awareness, cultural knowledge, cultural skill, cultural encounter and cultural desire. Finally limitation of the study and the need for a further research has been clearly stated. / Health Studies / M.A.