ABSTRACT
Among the Swahili peoples of coastal Kenya, physical health is inseparable from spiritual wellbeing, maintained through the regular practice of rituals of pre-Islamic and Islamic origin. The authors reflect on ethnographic and clinical experiences living among and caring for the Swahili of Lamu Town during a period of rapid rise in chronic diseases. By describing the medically dynamic and pluralistic context in which the Swahili prevent, diagnose and manage disease, and explaining how the Swahili fit new diseases into their cultural framework, the authors hope to support healthcare providers, researchers and policymakers in delivering culturally congruent healthcare.
