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Healers: these pages record the lives and teachings of herbal healers. They are history, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before stopping or changing any treatment, especially for HIV, cancer or diabetes.

Healers

Dr. Llaila O. Afrika

Author, lecturer and naturopath Dr. Llaila O. Afrika wrote African Holistic Health, one of the most widely read books on natural healing in Black communities, along with more than 80 books, recordings and videos on health, history and nutrition.

Not a photo of Dr. Afrika (no openly licensed photo of him exists): a traditional healer and a San activist talk over tea about healing herbs, South Africa, 2019
Not a photo of Dr. Afrika (no openly licensed photo of him exists): a traditional healer and a San activist talk over tea about healing herbs, South Africa, 2019. Credit: Kgara Kevin Rack, via Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY-SA 4.0.

African Holistic Health

Dr. Llaila O. Afrika is best known for African Holistic Health, a guide to natural healing written from an African-centered point of view. Its revised and expanded edition has more than 150,000 copies in print (LibraryThing). The book treats health as a matter of diet, herbs, spirit and culture together, and argues that African people should build their health practices on African traditions.

Teacher and lecturer

He produced more than 80 books, CDs and DVDs on health, history and nutrition, and lectured widely in Black communities (AALBC).

Legacy

According to his author page, he has since made his transition, and his widow, Dr. Melanie Stevenson, carries on his work (AALBC). Little independent biographical information has been published, so this page is awaiting editorial review and will be expanded as more sources are found.

The healing claims

Dr. Llaila O. Afrika taught that African people need a health system rooted in African culture, diet and herbal knowledge, and that natural remedies and lifestyle can prevent and heal disease. His many readers and students credit his work with changing their health.

Testimony

Sources

  1. AALBC, "Llaila Afrika" author page (Reference)
  2. LibraryThing, "Llaila O. Afrika" author page (Reference)