Many treatments we use today were employed by several ancient peoples throughout Africa. Before the European invasion of Africa, medicine in what is now Uganda, Kenya, Egypt, Sudan, and South Africa, to name just a few places, was more advanced than medicine in Europe (Okwuosa et al., 2021). In 1879, a British traveler, R.W. Felkin, observed C-sections being performed by the Ugandan tribe Banyole. Traditionally, they had developed their method of performing C-sections long before modern medicine introduced the procedure to the world (Morris & Asher, 2020). Their technique, which was passed down through generations, involved the use of rudimentary tools and a deep understanding of the human body. They would use banana wine to intoxicate the expectant mothers and cleanse his hands and abdomen before the surgery, and dress the wound with a paste prepared from roots.
The Kisii tribe of Kenya has a unique tradition of performing traditional craniotomies, a surgical procedure involving the removal of a portion of the skull. They were known as ababari ernetwe, which translates to “surgeons of the skull.” These craniotomies were performed using instruments and techniques that have been part of Kisii culture for centuries (Ochieng & Ruto, 2022). They were typically carried out by skilled practitioners to treat head injuries, manage head-related ailments, or address spiritual beliefs. The Dogon people of Mali have a long-standing tradition of surgical practices. Their expertise includes circumcision, dental surgery, and the treatment of fractures and dislocations, with these techniques handed down through generations, preserving their surgical heritage (Diakite et al., 2023). The Nubian people, who inhabited the region of Nubia in what is now Sudan, were early pioneers in various surgical procedures and medical practices. Nubian surgeons were skilled in removing tumors and growths from the body, as well as surgical amputation. Nubian archaeological sites have revealed the medical tools and instruments that showcased their surgical advancements (El-Tayeb, 2025).
Routine surgery, as its name suggests, was performed by many other tribes in pre-colonial times. For instance, the Khoisan of South Africa were skilled in tooth extraction, and the Hausa excelled in bone setting (Ndung’u, 2019). Probably the oldest medical document ever written is the Edwin Smith surgical papyrus. Descriptions of the patients and their treatment were detailed systematically, starting with wounds of the scalp, fractures of the skull exposing the brain, fracture of the neck with paralysis of the arms and legs, fracture of the collarbone, and moving down to the extremities (Bremmer, 2020). One of the temple’s carvings is believed to be among the earliest representations of medical and surgical instruments by the Ancient Kemetic people, which include scalpels, curettes, forceps, medicine bottles, scissors, and prescriptions (Williams, 2024).
Selected references
El-Tayeb, R. (2025). Surgical Practices in Ancient Nubia: An Archaeological Perspective. Journal of Historical Medicine, 12(2), 112-123
Williams, R. (2024). Ancient Kemetic Surgical Instruments: A Comprehensive Study. Journal of Ancient Civilizations, 8(3), 180-195.
Diakite, M. et al. (2023). Traditional Medical Practices in Dogon Society: A Review. African Journal of Traditional Medicine, 10(1), 45-59.
Morris, J. & Asher, L. (2020). The Evolution of Surgical Techniques in East Africa: Past and Present. East African Medical Journal, 97(4), 292-298.
Ndung’u, J. (2019). Traditional Healing and Surgery Among the Khoisan. South African Journal of History, 105(3), 25-34.
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