Indigenous Knowledge and Practices for Managing COVID-19 Pandemic among the Ebira-Toa of Kogi State

Abstract

The coronavirus pandemic took the world unawares by its sudden appearance and fast spread across the world. The disease, which has no known cure, caused millions of deaths in Europe, Asia, America and Africa, among other continents. However, while fatalities keep rising across the world, Africa has recorded a slower spread rate and lower death rate compared to other parts of the world. Since there is no known cure,only promising vaccines, it may beexpedient to attribute the low fatality rate in Africa to the role of indigenous knowledge and cultural practices. Among these practices is the Ebira cultural knowledge in herbal usage and other cultural behaviours used in the prevention and management of pandemics like COVID-19. This paper examines traditional herbal preparations and cultural practices crucial to the prevention and management of pandemics using a qualitative research method.