Abstract

This paper attempts to explore the notion of mental ill health in African traditional medicine and African traditional society. The concept of liberty as it relates to decision-making in mental health care is central to this paper, hence, conscious effort was made to evaluate the paternalistic role of the community in most African countries with regards mental health care and as enforced by practitioners of African traditional medicine in what is referred to as 'community-individuality'. The paper summed up on the note that the community must concede decision-making to individuals and such decisions by individuals should be respected even if it contradicts the position of the community. This is because decision making is an integral part of one's humanity