Prominent Glendale-based traditional healer, Sekuru Nyangatayani, born Peter Chinguzi, is preparing to represent Zimbabwe at the upcoming Hong Kong International Chinese Medicine and Traditional Medicine Conference 2025. The respected healer will depart for Hong Kong on Monday, where he is set to spend a week showcasing his herbal remedies and engaging with international experts in the field of traditional healing.
The conference, which has grown into one of Asia’s premier gatherings for traditional and alternative medicine, will bring together practitioners, researchers, and academics from across the globe. For Sekuru Nyangatayani, the event represents a milestone in his career as well as a major recognition of the value of Zimbabwean traditional knowledge on the international stage.
In an interview ahead of his departure, an elated Nyangatayani expressed his excitement about the opportunity to take his work beyond Zimbabwe’s borders. “I am excited to let you know that on Monday, I will be going to Hong Kong, China, for a Traditional Medicine Conference to exhibit our herbs there. This is a big moment for me, because it means our work is going international,” he said.
The healer added that his participation is not only a personal achievement but also a chance to showcase the richness of Zimbabwe’s indigenous healing practices to the rest of the world. “Our work is being recognised internationally, so I am going to raise our nation’s flag high in China at this expo,” he declared with pride.
Sekuru Nyangatayani to Showcase Zimbabwean Traditional Medicine at Hong Kong Conference
For years, Sekuru Nyangatayani has been known in his community and beyond as a practitioner committed to preserving and advancing traditional healing. His remedies, drawn from generations of indigenous knowledge, have attracted patients from different parts of Zimbabwe who seek natural alternatives to conventional medicine. The invitation to participate in Hong Kong’s high-profile conference, he said, reflects the growing global interest in traditional healing systems.
The event will not only allow Nyangatayani to present Zimbabwean herbs and treatments but also give him the chance to learn from other cultures. He stressed that his attendance is about knowledge exchange as much as it is about showcasing his work. “This platform is important because it allows us to share ideas, to learn from each other, and to see how our traditional practices can complement modern medicine,” he said.
The Hong Kong International Chinese Medicine and Traditional Medicine Conference 2025 is being organised by Bauhinia Magazine and hosted by the Bauhinia Cultural Group. The expo is expected to attract a wide variety of stakeholders, including scholars, medical practitioners, cultural groups, and businesses involved in herbal medicine. Several universities in China are also expected to participate, creating opportunities for academic exchange and potential research collaborations.
According to organisers, the conference is designed to strengthen cultural and medical ties between countries, while highlighting the importance of traditional knowledge in addressing global health challenges. In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in traditional medicine worldwide, particularly in areas where conventional treatments have limitations.
Zimbabwe’s participation, through figures like Nyangatayani, is seen as a valuable contribution to the global conversation. The healer’s attendance will allow him to not only display his herbs but also tell the story of how Zimbabwean communities have relied on indigenous medicine for centuries.
Back home, Nyangatayani’s journey is being celebrated by fellow healers and community members, who see it as a breakthrough for traditional medicine in Zimbabwe. While Western medicine has dominated formal health systems, indigenous knowledge continues to play a crucial role in many households. The healer believes that international recognition can help elevate the status of traditional practices and potentially open pathways for formal collaborations.
“This is not just about me,” Nyangatayani explained. “It is about our culture, our traditions, and our history. When I go to Hong Kong, I will be carrying the voice of my people with me. I want the world to know that Zimbabwe has something important to contribute.”
As Nyangatayani prepares to leave for Hong Kong, his hopes are not only pinned on successfully representing the country but also on forming lasting partnerships. He said he looks forward to exploring how Zimbabwean herbs can be integrated into global markets and possibly even researched at international universities.
Observers say his trip could pave the way for more traditional healers from Zimbabwe to engage internationally, thereby giving the sector visibility and credibility. For many, his attendance is an encouraging step toward preserving indigenous knowledge systems in a rapidly modernising world.
The Hong Kong conference begins next week and will run for seven days. For Sekuru Nyangatayani, the week promises to be an extraordinary journey—one that blends cultural pride, professional achievement, and the hope of raising Zimbabwe’s flag high on the global stage of traditional medicine.
Source- Bulawayo24
