muti
A South African term — drawn from Zulu and other Nguni languages — for traditional African medicine, including herbal remedies, roots, animal parts, and other ingredients prescribed by traditional healers.
Definitions
A South African term — drawn from Zulu and other Nguni languages — for traditional African medicine, including herbal remedies, roots, animal parts, and other ingredients prescribed by traditional healers. Muti plays a significant role in everyday healthcare and spiritual practice across southern Africa. While the word is neutral and widely used, it occasionally appears in darker contexts involving illegal or dangerous practices. In everyday South African speech, however, it simply means the medicine a traditional healer has prepared for you.
His grandmother swore by her healer's muti and refused to touch anything from the pharmacy.
Comments
(South Africa) Traditional African medicine.
“Krach justiitsiks ja Muti Karutar haridust juhtima. Nad saavad usa admin sarnase tsirkuse kokku küll, üsna lihtsa vaevaga, peab kurvastusega tõdema”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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