Transatlantic Therapeutic Quests: African Diasporic Religiosity and Medical Syncretism in Select Nigerian Literature

This study interrogates the paradoxical phenomenon of African diasporic individuals seeking medical solutions from churches in their home countries, despite residing in the United States with its high class medical infrastructure. The research through a critical examination of select Nigerian literature, explores the complex intersections of religiosity, cultural identity, and health-seeking behaviors among African diasporic individuals and families. Based on postcolonial theory, this analysis reveals how E.C. Osondu in his collection of short stories, Voice of America, depict the interweaving of Christian religion and traditional/African spiritual healing practices by some church leaders in Nigeria. The stories under study highlight the ways in which African diasporic individuals navigate multiple therapeutic landscapes, as they often prioritize spiritual interventions over conventional medical care. Consequently, this work argues that the pursuit of spiritual healing solutions from churches back home stems from ignorance, trust, as well as the desire to reconnect with ancestral cultural heritage and mitigate the alienating effects of diaspora. Furthermore, it highlights the role of religion in mediating health-seeking behaviors, particularly among Nigerian diasporic women. Hence, by exploring the intersections of religion, culture, and health, this study contributes to ongoing discourse on medical syncretism, transnational healthcare practices, and the complex dynamics of African diasporic identity formation. Ultimately, this research demonstrates how Nigerian literature provides an understanding to the complex therapeutic quests undertaken by Nigerian diasporic individuals.