dukun

Dukun is a term widely used in Indonesia and Malaysia to describe a traditional spiritual healer or shaman. The word, from Malay and Javanese roots, denotes a practitioner believed to possess spiritual power or ancestral knowledge who offers services to diagnose illness, provide protection, or remove misfortune. Dukun practices vary by region and community and can encompass traditional medicine, ritual, and divination.

Practices often include prayers or invocations (jampi or mantras), cleansing rituals, exorcisms, the use of talismans or charms, and the preparation of herbal remedies. Some dukuns perform divination, dream interpretation, or rituals intended to influence luck, love, or prosperity. In many rural areas, dukuns are part of a broader system of customary care and may operate alongside or instead of formal health care.

Social role and belief: Dukuns are embedded in local belief systems and are viewed as intermediaries between the material world and spiritual forces. Their authority rests on perceived knowledge, lineage, or experience, and they can play a significant role in community life, rites of passage, and personal crises. The relationship between dukuns and formal institutions—such as medicine or religion—varies regionally and can be cooperative or contentious.

Controversies and regulation: The practice sometimes intersects with fraud or harm, particularly in cases labeled as santet or black magic. Media reports and legal cases have brought attention to abuses, extortion, or violence linked to some traditional healers. Some countries regulate or prosecute such acts, while others seek to protect cultural heritage and consumer safety by distinguishing legitimate traditional healing from criminal activity.