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Yoruba Traditional Medicine: History, Practices, and Modernization

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Yorùbá medicine, known as egbòogi, is one of the most enduring African systems of herbalism and healing. Practiced predominantly in West Africa and the Caribbean, it remains a vital aspect of Yoruba cultural identity and health care. Rooted in centuries of knowledge, spiritual practices, and natural remedies, Yoruba traditional medicine has evolved from ancient times into a practice that now coexists with modern medical systems.

Historical Development of Yoruba Medicine

The origins of Yoruba traditional medicine date back to the earliest settlements in Ile-Ife, regarded as the cultural and spiritual heart of the Yoruba nation. Traditional medicine formed part of the people’s daily lives, deeply connected with their worldview, religion, and social structure. Health was perceived holistically, involving the body, mind, and spirit, and illnesses were often explained not only in physical but also in spiritual terms.

As Yoruba communities expanded into cities such as Ibadan, Lagos, Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode, Ilesha, Ado-Ekiti, Osogbo, Ogbomoso, Ilorin, and Ile-Ife, healers and practitioners became central figures in society. Beyond Nigeria, Yoruba medicine spread to Benin, Togo, Cuba, and the Caribbean, carried along by migration and the transatlantic slave trade.

Practices in Diagnosis and Treatment

Yoruba traditional medicine is a multifaceted system that combines herbalism, spiritual healing, divination, and natural therapies. A Traditional Medicine Practitioner (TMP) is recognized by their community as competent to provide healthcare through the use of plants, minerals, animal parts, and spiritual guidance.

Some of the key practices include:

Herbal Medicine: Preparation of remedies using roots, leaves, barks, and seeds.

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Bone Setting: Indigenous techniques for fractures and dislocations.

Spiritual Therapies: Healing rituals involving prayers, sacrifices, and consultation with deities.

Maternity and Childcare: Traditional birth attendants (TBAs) overseeing pregnancy and childbirth.

Mental Health Care: Traditional psychiatrists and spiritualists diagnosing and treating psychiatric conditions.

Other Therapies: Aromatherapy, massage therapy, music therapy, and ritual cleansing.

Specialization in Traditional Medicine

Yoruba medicine is not limited to general practice; it includes specialists who cater to specific health challenges:

Herbalists – focusing on plant-based remedies.

Bone Setters – skilled in handling fractures and dislocations.

Traditional Psychiatrists – managing mental and spiritual disturbances.

Traditional Paediatricians – caring for children’s health.

Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) – assisting in childbirth.

Occult Practitioners – dealing with mystical and spiritual interventions.

The Role of Religion and Mysticism

Religious beliefs play a central role in Yoruba medicine. Illness is often linked to cosmic or spiritual imbalances, requiring not just physical treatment but also spiritual intervention. Divination systems like Ifá are used for diagnosis, guiding healers toward the cause and solution of an illness. Rituals, incantations, and sacrifices are common elements of healing, reflecting the deep interconnection between health and spirituality.

The Coming of Orthodox Medicine

The introduction of Western, or orthodox, medicine into Nigeria during the colonial period brought significant change. Missionary hospitals, such as the Sacred Heart Hospital in Abeokuta (established in 1885), offered new approaches to health care. This development challenged the dominance of traditional medicine but did not erase its influence. Instead, both systems began to coexist, with many Yoruba people seeking remedies from both traditional healers and modern doctors.

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Modernization of Yoruba Medicine

Today, Yoruba traditional medicine is undergoing modernization and standardization. Efforts have been made to document herbal knowledge, regulate traditional practices, and promote safe usage of remedies. Herbal products are increasingly packaged, branded, and sold commercially across Nigeria and abroad.

The Nigerian government, through agencies like NIPRD (National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development), has emphasized the need to integrate traditional medicine into the national healthcare system. However, challenges remain in terms of standardization, dosage measurement, and scientific validation of herbal remedies.

The Way Forward

Yoruba medicine continues to thrive as a cultural heritage and healthcare system. For it to play a stronger role in modern society, government policies need to address:

Proper documentation of medicinal plants and practices.

Regulation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners (TMPs).

Research into the safety and efficacy of herbal remedies.

Collaboration between orthodox medicine and traditional healers.

Yoruba traditional medicine is more than an alternative healing system—it is a cultural legacy that reflects the Yoruba worldview of health, spirituality, and community. Despite the rise of orthodox medicine, egbòogi remains relevant in Nigeria and beyond, serving millions who still rely on its holistic approach. The modernization and proper regulation of this system will not only preserve a valuable cultural heritage but also contribute meaningfully to healthcare delivery in Africa.

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Declare Your Lineage – Royal Family Tells Musician KWAM 1 Over His Interest In Becoming Next Awujale Of Ijebuland

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December 7, 2025

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KWAM 1, in a letter dated December 3, 2025, addressed to the chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Agunsebi Quarters, Ijebu-Ode, announced his interest in the stool, describing himself as a “bonafide son” of the ruling house.

The Fusengbuwa ruling house of Ijebu-Ode, next in line to produce the new Awujale of Ijebuland, Ogun State, has instructed Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM 1, to confirm his family’s royal lineage to validate his membership in the ruling house.

KWAM 1, in a letter dated December 3, 2025, addressed to the chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Agunsebi Quarters, Ijebu-Ode, announced his interest in the stool, describing himself as a “bonafide son” of the ruling house.

KWAM 1 also stated that his candidacy aligns with Ijebu customary law and the Ogun State Chieftaincy Laws.

In an interview with Punch, the Chairman of the ruling house and former National President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Abdulateef Owoyemi, said only bonafide members of the family would be allowed to participate in the selection process.

Owoyemi explained that KWAM 1, Olori Omooba of Ijebu land and others interested in the stool have been directed to complete the Fusengbuwa ruling house royal lineage data form.

According to him, the form, which requires contenders to trace their genealogy back seven generations, ensures that only genuine princes from the family can participate, thereby blocking “strangers” from claiming the throne.

He said, “The first step for anyone interested in contesting for the Awujale throne is to declare their lineage by filling the standard Fusengbuwa ruling house royal lineage data form. Once confirmed as a legitimate member of the ruling house, they can then apply for the expression of interest form.

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“We have told him, just like everyone else interested in the Awujale throne, that the first step is to declare his lineage. He will do this by completing the royal lineage data form, showing his full name, which parent and grandparent he descends from, and continuing up to seven generations.

“The completed form will be signed and submitted to the head of the ruling house unit of the Fusengbuwa ruling house, who will affirm that he is a genuine member. Only then will the process move forward.”

Owoyemi emphasised that although the application window for the throne officially closed on December 5, KWAM 1 had been given a five-day extension, which would lapse on December 10.

He noted, “We won’t shut anybody out of picking the next Awujale, but we must ensure that you are a legitimate member of Fusengbuwa. Every right comes with responsibilities. For a royal family, everyone must prove their legitimacy by completing the royal lineage data form.

“When we receive the form, we will review it meticulously. If clarification is needed, we will contact the applicant. We welcome men of influence who will use their influence to enhance the throne, not to claim it, ensuring that what truly belongs to our family is preserved.”

Owoyemi explained that the local government has given them 14 days to select candidates, and the ruling house hopes to have a new Awujale by the second or third week of January 2026.

He added, “The local government has given us 14 days to select candidates, which expires on December 18. After that, the kingmakers have seven days to deliberate and choose one candidate, whose name will be forwarded to the governor.

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“Legally, the government then has 21 days to conduct background checks and security clearance, allowing for objections or protests. After this period, the State Executive Council will ratify the nominee, and the governor will announce the next Awujale, after which coronation rites will commence.

“So, combining the candidate selection, kingmakers’ deliberation, and legal objection period, we are looking at around 42 days. Therefore, we expect the next Awujale to emerge between the second and third week of January.”

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VIDEO: I’m Married But Not In My Husband’s House; I Didn’t Have The Experience Of Living Happily Ever After – Singer Shola Allyson Reveals

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December 7, 2025

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While speaking about her love life, the 54-year-old who came into limelight with a love album ‘Eji Owuro’, revealed that she is married but not living with her husband.

Sola Allyson, the popular Nigerian gospel singer, has revealed that she is not currently living with her husband.

The musician made this known in her latest interview on Oyinmomo TV.

While speaking about her love life, the 54-year-old who came into limelight with a love album ‘Eji Owuro’, revealed that she is married but not living with her husband.

Sharing her marital experience, the singer said she has never enjoyed the kind of happiness many people describe.

“I’m married, but I’m not in my husband’s house. We live separately. He in his house and I in mine.”

The interviewer asked: “You sang ‘Eji Owuro’, did you experience genuine love from your husband?

She replied, “We lied before. Those older than us didn’t inform us that it’s tough. They made us believe that so long as you both love each other, you will live happily ever after, but it’s a lie.

“That’s not the experience I have. I didn’t have the experience of living happily ever after. I did all I could to make it work.

“Marriage has been a big challenge. I hear people talk about joy in marriage, but I have never experienced it.”

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VIDEO: Shola Allyson Finally Opens Up, Reveals Why She Does Not Reference Jesus In Her Songs

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18 hours ago

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December 7, 2025

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Recall that Allyson, who is regarded as a gospel singer, was dragged on social media in March 2025 for not directly referencing ‘Jesus’ in all her songs.

Shola Allyson, the renowned Nigerian songstress, has opened up on the real reason she avoids mentioning the name of Jesus in all her songs.

Recall that Allyson, who is regarded as a gospel singer, was dragged on social media in March 2025 for not directly referencing ‘Jesus’ in all her songs.

Reacting to her critics in a post on X, the songstress stated that “No one can bully me into joining their darkness that looks like light because indolent souls find comfort in it”.

Finally revealing her reason for not mentioning Jesus in her songs, Shola Allyson on Saturday during her latest interview on Oyinmomo TV, stated that Jesus did not ask her to do PR for him.

She said “I’m not a religious singer. As I am, I have never introduced myself as a gospel singer. My name is Shola Allyson. I’m a singer”.

Interviewer; “Some people said you don’t mention ‘Jesus’ name’ in all your songs”.

She quickly responded “Jesus did not instruct us to mention his name in songs nor did Jesus ask us to do PR for Him”.

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