African Medicine
September 2019

“The Fort Hare Symposium between Jungian Analysts and African Traditional Healers” took place on 27 – 30 October 2016 in Hogsback, South Africa. It was a unique event, perhaps the first official conference in the history of Analytical Psychology where Jungian analysts encountered indigenous healers on an equal level to begin a collegial and professional dialogue and exchange. About half a dozen Jungian Analysts, all members of SAAJA (South African Association of Jungian Analysts) except one, and an equal number of African traditional healers met each “other” to discuss similarities and differences regarding common relevant topics such as healing practices, dream interpretation, the particular use of intuition / umbilini and more. Both sides agreed that the symposium was a beginning only and should be continued in the future.

Accordingly, the second conference “African Traditional Healers and Jungian Analysts in Dialogue” took place on 22 – 25 November 2018 at Monkey Valley, Noordhoek, Cape Town. Our goals and visions were: To establish a core group of African Traditional Healers and Jungian Analysts who are committed to building collegial relationships between these two healing modalities, which could result in closer cooperation, mutual respect and cross-referrals; and to promote an understanding of each other’s worldview and approaches to healing.

As an opening event for this semester Peter Ammann (ISAP), Renee Rams- den, senior analyst (SAAJA), Fred Borchardt, president of SAAJA, and Nom- fundo Mlisa, PhD, traditional healer, will report and reflect on these pioneer- ing conferences and their importance for Jungian psychology as well as for traditional healing and their future collaboration.

Peter Ammann (ISAP)

Renee Ramsden, senior analyst (SAAJA)

Fred Borchardt, president of SAAJA

Nomfundo Mlisa, PhD, traditional healer