DORCAS M. LEKGANYANE
Nominee's Province:
Gauteng
Project Name/Description:
Busting myths, creating space for African traditional medicine Born and bred in rural Limpopo, Dorcas Lekganyane is a Master’s graduate (c.l) from the Department of Botany and Plant Science at the University of Johannesburg. Lekganyane’s postgraduate research focused mainly on the role, application and trade of traditional medicinal plants in South Africa, the results of which have been nothing short of exciting. The novelty of Lekganyane’s research has won her more than 14 prestigious awards, locally and around the world. Among these, she was honoured with the South African Woman in Science award and recognised as SA’s Best Young Scientist. Internationally, Lekganyane is the recipient of the Office of Research Grand Prize in Science, an achievement that cemented her scientific contributions. Overall, her work seeks to understand the medicinal properties of legendary African remedies, a journey that has seen her applying modern-day technology of genetic sequencing to better understand the basic building blocks (genes) of each plant on a molecular level. “I am a young black academic female inspired by my heritage and my home … Africa,” she says proudly. Her research has busted myths and enhanced the understanding of indigenous African medicine, the most misunderstood type of healing in the growing Western world. Currently, Lekganyane works in foreign policy and is on the cusp of launching her herbal homeopathic range, which infuses key African traditional medicines to form essential wellness products. For bookings and enquiries, Lekganyane can be reached through social media or at Dorcas Didi Lekganyane @didi.lekganayne.
