Neurodiversity in Africa
Related Reading: Learn more about the mystery of night running and African spirituality in Night Running in Africa: Tribal Art, Witchcraft, or Sadism .
Cultural Understandings of Neurodivergence
For centuries, many African cultures have viewed healthcare in a holistic way, meaning they see physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being as all connected. This comprehensive approach is valuable, but it can sometimes lead to misunderstandings about neurodivergence.
Instead of recognizing that people's brains can work differently, like someone who finds a different route to the same place by turning right instead of making three lefts, these differences might be seen as a personal failing or a spiritual problem. This can be harmful because it puts the blame on the individual instead of recognizing natural variations in how people think and learn.
The term neurodivergent refers to individuals whose brains function or develop differently, often without a specific medical diagnosis to explain these differences. In many African communities, concepts such as autism or ADHD may not have direct translations in local languages.
People often describe neurodivergent individuals by focusing on specific behaviors and characteristics, frequently highlighting negative traits instead of recognizing diverse ways of thinking and learning.
Perceived Spiritual Imbalance
In Africa many Neurodivergent conditions are attributed to spiritual forces, ancestral influences, and curses. Unusual behavior is seen as possession by a spirit or the result of a transgression by a warlike ancestor or an evil spirit.
In communities where traditional healing practices are prevalent, parents turn to traditional healers in their search for ways to connect with their children and address their needs. Traditional healers use treatments for Neurodivergents based on spiritual understandings using herbal remedies, rituals, and spiritual ceremonies.
Parents may be torn between seeking support for their child, which might involve acknowledging Neurodivergent behavior and maintaining their social standing within the community. Many parents navigate between traditional beliefs about the causes of neurodivergence and more modern, scientific understandings. This creates internal conflict and confusion, as being Neurodivergent is oftentimes associated with being a witch.
Neurodivergent Healthcare Practices
Traditional medicine is often the primary form of healthcare in many parts of Africa. People have different beliefs about illness. Instead of thinking about germs, many Africans believe that illnesses are caused by bad luck, curses, or upsetting the spirits of ancestors.
There is a lot of stigma throughout Africa around Neurodivergent conditions (Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Tourette syndrome). If someone acts differently, like having trouble focusing in class, people might think they're possessed by an evil spirit or just bad kids.
Autism is sometimes referred to as a someone who lives in their own world, slow, can’t get right, thick headed, special or does not talk or use descriptive phrases in local languages. ADHD is described with terms for restlessness, can’t think straight, hyperactivity, or lack of focus.
Witchcraft Trail of a Neurodivergent 90 Year Old Women
Some 300 women falsely accused of witchcraft are spread across five witch camps nationwide. Disregarded by society, they often live in dire conditions. Accused witches live in constant fear for their safety, knowing that their lives are at risk due to the accusations.
A recorded video of the murder went viral on social media. The viral video shows how they surrounded the 90-year-old woman, using objects to hit her head, slapping her, and whipping her several times as she sat on the ground. After the beatings, she became unconscious, and the tortures gave her concoctions to drink; then, they took her to her house, where she later died.
On July 5, 2023, the court found Serena and Bomaye guilty and sentenced them to 12 years in prison for their involvement in the murder. Five other people were acquitted, including the chief of the remote community of Kafaba.
Neurodiversity Language Barriers
In African communities, concepts such as autism or ADHD may not have translations leading to misunderstandings about neurodivergence. The Western biomedical model of neurodivergence is based on specific scientific understandings of brain development and function. These concepts may not align with the existing cultural frameworks in some African communities.
Without clear terms and understanding, it can be difficult for healthcare professionals to diagnose neurodivergent conditions and for individuals to access appropriate support and services. Even when translations exist, the translated terms might carry negative connotations or stigma in some cultures.
Did you know?
Judy Singer, an Australian sociologist with autism, is credited with coining neurodiversity in 1998. Neurodivergent includes Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Tourette syndrome. The word for people who aren’t neurodivergent is neurotypical. That means their strengths and challenges aren't affected by any kind of difference that changes how their brains work.
Spiritual Insight: Discover how ancestral spirits and modern beliefs intersect in Night Running in Africa: Tribal Art, Witchcraft, or Sadism .