Preserving Ethnoveterinary Medicine (EVM) along the Transhumance Routes in Southwestern Angola: Synergies between International Cooperation and Academic Research

Abstract

This study delves into the ethnoveterinary medicine (EVM) practiced by pastoralists along the transhumance routes in southwestern Angola. Within the framework of three cooperation projects, we conducted 434 interviews, collecting information on 89 taxa used for treating 16 livestock diseases. The most cited species was Ptaeroxylon obliquum (132 citations), followed by Salvadora persica (59) and Elaeodendron transvaalense (49). Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) was the disease most cited (223 citations; 44 species), followed by wounds (95; 20) and Newcastle (86; 14). We found that 30 species and 48 uses have not been previously reported in the ethnoveterinary literature. Jaccard index (mean value = 0.13) showed a greatly diversified knowledge among the ethnic groups: Kuvale and Nyaneka were the most knowledgeable and should be included in the various strategies for disseminating EVM in the area. Most informants recognized that abundance of some species decreased in the last years as a result of human activities and climatic changes. Finally, we discuss challenges in preserving the EVM in the area. Our findings suggest that preservation of the EVM in southwestern Angola is widely impacted by the access to biomedicine. Future studies should investigate the opportunity to integrate traditional medicine into mainstream development projects, which is crucial for decolonizing the veterinary sector in Angola.

Keywords: EVM; conventional veterinary medicine; decolonization; ethnoveterinary; southwestern Angola; transhumance.

Figure 1

The landscape of a grazing area along transhumance routes ((a) Namibe, source: R. Bozzi, 2023; (b) Huila, source: R. Bozzi, 2023).

Figure 2

Map of Angola (a); provinces where the study occurred (b); key transhumance routes (grey arrows) and significant grazing locations (green dots) (c).

Figure 3

(a) The first author interviewing Mumuhuila people about local plants and their veterinary uses (Bibala, source: M. Tonini, 2015). (b) A research assistant from the Veterinary Services Institute (ISV) interviewing a shepherd from Bibala (source: P. Bruschi, 2015). The participants of the study consented to the publication of the photos.

Figure 4

Some useful medicinal plants indicated by the informants: (a) Pterocarpus angolensis (source: P. Bruschi, Bibala 2015), (b) Pachypodium lealii (source P. Bruschi, Bibala 2015), (c) Ptaeroxylon obliquum (source P. Bruschi, Bibala 2015), and (d) Ximenia americana (source: P. Bruschi, Bibala 2015).

Figure 5

Useful medicinal plants indicated by the informants (a) Aloe littoralis (source: P. Bruschi, Namibe 2015); (b) Zygophyllum simplex (source: K. Kamba, Bibala 2014).

Figure 6

Circular plots showing the relationship between the reported livestock disease and the different ethnic groups. Color bands summarize relationships between each disease and ethnic group (ticks represent the number of species (a) and the number of citations (b) for each disease and ethnic group, see Table 3).

Figure 7

Distribution of species (≥5 citations) abundance according to the informants’ perception. Species were grouped into three categories (x-axis): rare, medium, and abundant. Each colored box represents a species and box sizes represent the number of interviewees reporting a certain abundance category for each species. Species can occur in more than one category (e.g., P. obliquum is reported in the three abundance categories) because the graph is based on the number of interviewees indicating a certain abundance category for each species. We included the scientific name of the species in the box of species with a higher number of reports in each category.

Figure 8

Young shepherds from Kamacuio (a) and Bentiaba (b) interviewed in Namibe by ISCED technicians in 2023. The participants of the study consented to the publication of the photos.