Abstract:
Indeed, the implicit hypothesis that “there is little possibility, if any, for the Pedi
traditional healers to experience the supernatural form of healing without performing
music and dancing to it” raises the issue of “What makes the dance potent as a
healing therapy?” or ‘What is the role of music in such healing processes?’. This
article is a result of a guided investigation carried out in order to answer these
questions. The primary sources for data collection were literature reviews, informal
interviews, observations and recordings. During the study, informal discussions
with traditional healers and their trainees revealed that participation in malopo
rituals enables community members to inherit their music tradition. The impression
created during interviews and observations was that Pedi traditional healers perform
malopo songs to communicate with the ancestors. The results suggest that malopo
rituals are aimed at enriching the personal and social life of the Pedi community.
