Presentation of university of zululand students on topic given for indigenous knowledge practises.

1. Indigenous
knowledge
practises
Group I
Nonqubeko Zuma -201801735
Simphiwe Khowa -201825362
Mbalenhle Chiya -201844587
Nombuso Manqele -201731767
Sipho Kunene -201825106

2. Introduction
Indigenous knowledge practise is the knowledge that is developed by communities and that
knowledge they believe in it ; in addition, different communities have different indigenous practises.

3. Ukuchatha

4. What is it ?
Ukuchatha is an indigenous practise which is mostly practised by African’s especially IsiZulu & Xhosa
speaking people .It have gained prominence as its mostly affiliated with traditional healers’ practises
and african pharmacies

5. What makes its ik practise ?
- Ukuchatha’ is a process which assembles traditional healer instructions after receiving instructions
and given African medical herbs to use guided by instructions given by traditional healer or african
pharmacy
– ‘Ukuchatha’ is also involves indigenous knowledge which is in reference with African herbs practise
mostly linked with traditional healers giving instruction to the recipient to use this practise
;moreover, it mostly not the case that the should be a traditional healer instruction to embark on
this practise ,but sharing of indigenous African herbs in line with ukuchatha is used by Africans to
instil knowledge to utilise in event of sickness or any area of live which needs special attention to
this practise ; for instance , iboza which is a green plant that is commonly used to embark on
ukuchatha process.

6. Where its practised ?
– It is mostly practised in kwa Zulu Natal province especially in rural communities such as
kwanongoma , kwamadlala , zingolweni , etc. The issue that this practise is commonly adopted
by rural people ,its because people living in rural areas still value their culture , indigenous
practises and have pride to be africans ,as such have not departed from their roots.

7. Who are practitioners of this particular ik
practise ?
– The practitioners involves traditional healers and African pharmacies that work in
connection to aid the process of ukuchatha as a practise . The reason for a person to
embark on this may not always be the case that the person is sick but can also be that
the was instruction provided by religious leaders , traditional leader , elder to do so and
so on. (Occupational health southern africa, 2018)
–
– Mostly elders are the one who practise this practise as compared to the new
generation ,in this regard ,with reference to our youth . the new generation mostly
prefer westernised way of doing in connection with handling their health matters ;in
addition , mostly are men who practise this practise rather than women ,but
comprehensively ,among all African gender engage in this practise as its can be
elemental to cultural practise (Occupational health southern africa, 2018)

8. How its communicated /shared or
transferred ?
– Ukuchatha is shared differently among various african groups as its can be done for various
reasons ,besides the one based on sickness. In the process leading to this behaviour the user will
be given instructions by traditional healer or elder in family to practise ukuchatha , while other
base it on indigenous knowledge passed on by elders with indigenous knowledge on african herbs
others gain the knowledge shared by communities as communication is initiated about daily life
situation shared in taxi’s ranks, churches and other places of heart.

9. How it applied ?
– The one who is adopting this practise should have ‘uchatho’ which is a instrument used to do
‘ukuchatha’ practise . uchatho holds the african herb during ukuchatha process ,as such , the
person put uchatho on the bowl or sourcing material and after uchatho is full , the actioner
of this practise should be on his/her knees and use the matt to have comfort during the
process.Uchatho is carefully put into the anus , the actioner bend his/her stomach to receive
the african herb ,while also holding uchatho .
– The actioner ensures uchatho is pressed to its full potential and balance bending of stomach
as receiving the african herb.
– Toilet paper should be readily available and toilet nearby to prevent human waste which is
mostly to hard to bear after embarking on this practise.

10. What are benefits ?
– ’ Ukuchatha’ offers more health benefits compared to western medical practise as they have side
effects . It declines health cost to go visit clinic or see a doctor as its uses free natural plants &
resources .Ukuchatha is more personalised practise and can be embarked on without
intervention of anyone compared to westernised practise

11. What are challenges associated IK
practise ?
– The major challenge of ‘ukuchatha’ is the fact that is needs actioner to ensure toilet is nearby
before embarking on this practise , as it may cause immediate human waste release .The root
problem with this is the fact that mostly practisers of this practise live in rural areas ,as such
toilets are distanced to homes to prevent smell coming to the house; in addition, doing this
practise in the toilets its involves been in a smelly environment which is unbearable for some of
us

12. What you think can be done to improve
it ?
– The ukuchatha can be improved by building modernised toilets that are not old fashioned but good
fragranced ,flushable toilets ,so it will be easier to embark on ukuchatha practise . and also find
comfort while realising human waste.

13. Ukulobola

14. What is it ?
Ukuloba it cattle's paid umkhenyana to his umakoti
Ukuloba mostly it various cattle's with their specific names and functions paid to the father and also
mother of the daughter.
These cattle's are the sign of pride and showing that the daughter will never starve when she joins the
family. It is also ubunomuzane of the umkhenyane’s father to show that the are not poor. Secondly , its is
taken to Amathongo (ancestors) .

15. What makes its ik practise ?
– It part of African cultures because others they don’t consider marriage as the right one or blessed one
without lobola being paid up by umkhenyane family.
– It is not only practised by AmaZulu,AmaXhosa, and Swazi people only , other African tribes like BaSotho
call its Mahadi, in Shona call it Roora, Batswana call it Magadi and Tsonga’s call it Lovola .

16. Where its practised ?
– All over African continent .

17. Who are practitioners of this particular
ik practise ?
Mahadi
Lobola
Roora

18. How its communicated /shared or
transferred ?
– Step 1 : Abakhongi , they send a letter to the umakoti family stating that their son which is
umkhenyane has seen a flower in the garden of that particular family.
– Step 2 : the family of umakoti receives the letter and send another letter with the date for lobola
negotiations. This gives the umakoti family the time to gather the elders who will represent.
– Step 3: When the agreement is reached , the family of umkhenyane will send abakhongi to come to
the family of umakoti to initiate lobola negotiations. Abakhongi arrive early in the morning.
– Step 4 : Abakhongi recite clan names and names of cows in reference of their colours at the gate of
umakoti family till the allowed to enter the premises of umakoti family . Once ,the are inside they
are supposed to pay imvulamlomo for father of umakoti to speak so amalobolo negotiations can
start.

19. How it applied ?
– Elders from umakoti state how many cows they want for their flower. They state these cow by their
colours and names.

20. What are benefits ?
Firstly, the umakoti get official
marriage permission from her
family and get introduced to the
ancestors of umkhenyana .
Secondly , their weeding is
regarded as blessed and legal one
and its give the family of umakoti
the sign of relief that their daughter
will not starve from umkhenyane
side of the family since they were
able to pay the lobola in full.
Thirdly , its give the umakoti the
pride that umkhenyane can afford
to look after her.
Forthly , it’s strengthens
relationship from both families .

21. What are challenges associated IK
practise ?
– Today people are confusing ilobolo, which is just cattles with Izibizo which are just goods . It is these
Izibizo where people start their gambling which conducted verbally.
– Some see this as business transaction .

22. What you think can be done to improve
it ?
– The should be standardise way on terms of payments that should be paid for lobola . Abakhongi
should be trusted people to execute lobola negotiation and not rob the umkhenyane family by
paying small amount of money and claiming that they paid more money.

23. Conclusion
– We must stay grounded to our culture and tradition ,because they keep us reminding us of who we
are as africans . If we don’t perform culture and tradition the next generation will be lost.