Jedijedi: Indigenous versus western knowledge of rectal haemorrhoids in Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria

The nexus of indigenous knowledge systems, medicine and disease conceptualisation remains a critical issue in having sustainable health globally. If knowledge about diseases is not objectively shared, sustainable global health may never be achieved. This is exacerbated by the political economy of South and West relations, which affect medical knowledge flows and acceptance. This article thereby investigates the knowledge gap ramifications of jedijedi in Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria. Jedijedi can be literally translated as "consumer of the rectal system" or "consumer of the buttocks". This article examines the contours of indigenous and western knowledge systems through jedijedi to extend understanding of global knowledge production and deployment narratives and realities. A major challenge is the refusal to acknowledge the disease in western medical epistemologies leading to prevalence of the disease. This article is based on a study conducted in Nigeria in 2014. Empirical primary data were gathered through 40 in-depth interviews with agunmu (local herb) sellers, clients of agunmu sellers, who also have experience of western medicine, clients of western medicine, pharmacists, traditional doctors and western medical doctors. Secondary data were also gathered.