GADAMER'S HERMENEUTICS VIS-A-VIS TRADITIONAL MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

This article explores the philosophical hermeneutics of Hans-Georg Gadamer, particularly his concepts of historical consciousness, language, and the fusion of horizons, in relation to traditional medicine and public health practices in Anambra State, Nigeria. It argues that Gadamer’s emphasis on understanding through dialogical engagement offers a meaningful interpretive framework for reassessing the epistemological foundations and social legitimacy of indigenous healing systems. By situating traditional medicine within its cultural and historical context, the study reveals how local health practitioners embody a lived tradition that is not merely functional but deeply interpretive, responsive to communal values, and dialogical in its transmission of knowledge. Through qualitative analysis which includes interviews with traditional healers, ethnobotanical data, and hermeneutic reflection, the article contends that meaningful public health discourse in African contexts requires recognition of the dialogical interplay between modern biomedical paradigms and indigenous worldviews. This interpretive integration, guided by Gadamerian thought, challenges the epistemic marginalization of traditional medicine and suggests a path toward a more inclusive, culturally rooted health system in Anambra State, Nigeria.