Intellectual Property protection of African traditional medicine

What is it about?

With the renewed impetus directed towards re-establishing African value systems against the iniquities of imperial domination, our central focus in this article is to demonstrate that the practice of traditional medicine is deeply rooted in African culture, which under the African human rights system is granted as a human right. In essence, the advancement of African culture and by implication African traditional medicine constitutes an integral aspect of the right to socioeconomic and cultural development enshrined in the African Charter. Of interest in this regard is the question of securing intellectual property rights over African traditional medicine, which we posit is achievable within the legal framework of the right to development in Africa.

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Photo by Dominique Cottin on Unsplash

Photo by Dominique Cottin on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Prior to the introduction of modern medicine, traditional medicinal practices characterised by indigenous methods of healing dominated the medical and public health system, which rural and urban communities in Africa relied on in dealing with the various diseases that threatened their existence and survival. Unfortunately, in spite of its potential to drive socio-economic and cultural development, with the advent of colonialism and the imposition of modernity, African traditional medicinal practices have largely been abandoned and considered primitive.

Perspectives