"Being attentive": exploring other-than-human agency in medicinal plants through everyday Rastafari plant practices. Issue 2 (3rd April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nathen, Tihana
• Is Part Of: Anthropology Southern Africa. Volume 41:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 115
• Page End: 126
• Publication Date: 2018-04-03
• Subjects: actor-network -- medicinal plants -- mountains -- ontologies -- Rastafarians; Anthropology -- Africa, Southern -- Periodicals; Ethnology -- Africa, Southern -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 301.0968
• DOI: 10.1080/23323256.2018.1468720
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2332-3256

Abstract

Abstract : The focus is on everyday practices and relations between local medicinal plants, Rastafari bossiesdokters [bush doctors] and kruiemanne [herbalists] of the Matzikama Local Municipality, which lies in the far north-west of the Western Cape Province. Inspired by the work of Bruno Latour, plants are approached as "actants" in an assemblage. Emphasising relational philosophies concerning human-plant interaction and drawing on the concept of gees [spirit], the paper illustrates some ways in which medicinal plants from the mountains appear to act with intentionality. I provide tentative suggestions to re-conceptualise and re-think engagement between plants and humans.