Sexual Abuse Survivors and the Complex of Traditional Healing

This policy report locates the structuresthat have local legitimacywhich are available to young sexual abuse survivors in Sierra Leone. To this end, the book discusses a healing complex that comprises a number of overlapping actors, including herbalists, Zoe Mammies (heads of the female secret societies), Mori-men (Muslim healers); Karamokos (Muslim teachers), and Christian pastors. There are three interrelated forms of healing that must take place: medical, psychological and social. Direct medical healing is mainly catered for by the herbalists; psychological healing by the Karamoko/Mori-men; and social healing by churches and Zoe mammies and in the ancestor bush. All play an important role.