Durwin Lynch
2016

Brua is an Afro-Caribbean religion and healing tradition practiced on Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao that exists for more than 350 years, and which plays a significant role in how (local) individuals make sense of their health and wellbeing. While western/biomedical approaches to health are dominant in some settings, there is an increasing amount of literature showing that people may use different explanatory models to attribute the cause of deviations in health (both mentally and physically) to supernatural occurrences or to previous wrongdoings, and seek relief through rituals and practices performed by traditional healers.

The aim of this exploratory study is to contribute to a (better) collaboration between Western health professionals and Traditional Healers, by gaining a more in-depth understanding of how Brua is perceived and practiced nowadays by the inhabitants of Curacao. The study takes a constructive perspective on the practice of Brua, approaching it as a cultural phenomenon, and seeking to define its influence on the lives of people using their own framing and interpretation. The main research question that guides this research is “How does the traditional healing act of Brua manifest itself in Curacao society compared to western medicine, and what are the enabling and hindering factors to their co-existence?” The study takes a qualitative, ethnographic approach involving document analysis, semi-structured and explorative in-depth interviews, as well as participatory observations.

Durwin Lynch originates from exotic Surinam and has lived 15 years on the beautiful island of Curacao, before pursuing his studies in the Netherlands. He has a bachelor degree in Science and Innovation Management (Utrecht University) and a Master degree in Management, Policy-analysis and Entrepreneurship in Health and Life Sciences (VU-University, Amsterdam), with a specialization in International Public Health. He is currently completing his PhD project ‘The role of citizens in sustainability transitions’ at the VU-University in Amsterdam, and is involved in a variety of health and sustainability related courses. With diverse interests in public health, sustainability, inclusion, cultural anthropology and education he feels that he is a proud ‘Yu di Korsou’ that would like to build a bridge between his personal and academic background.