Decolonizing Love, Healing, and Kinship & Exploring Polyandry and Indigenous Wisdom
Dr. Udim Isang, DPT, EdD, Mbia Idiong, is an award-winning educator, physical therapist, and activist specializing in indigenous healing practices, implicit bias in healthcare, and integrative wellness through movement and mindfulness.
Throughout history, indigenous communities have embraced diverse ways of structuring relationships, wellness, and spiritual balance, ways that colonial narratives often erased or misunderstood. Among the Anaang people of southeastern Nigeria, kinship extends beyond Western definitions of marriage, integrating communal responsibility, emotional care, and economic stability.
As I explore the roles of Mbia Idiong (seers and diviners) and Akpaisong (healers and priests), I am reminded that healing is not just about the body but also about the relationships we nurture. Polyandry, like other indigenous kinship structures, is not simply about romantic bonds but about sustaining harmony within a community. It reflects a deep understanding of shared responsibility, balance, and reciprocal care principles that are just as relevant today as they were in pre-colonial times.
This work aligns with my commitment to healing justice and collective liberation, which I bring into my role as a volunteer with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and a member of the BIPOC Leadership Institute. Through advocacy, education, and storytelling, I center the voices of marginalized communities particularly Black, Indigenous, queer, trans, and neurodivergent individuals who have historically been excluded from mainstream conversations about love, healing, and kinship. My work with HRC deepens my understanding of how systemic oppression impacts our relationships and reminds me that reclaiming ancestral wisdom is an act of resistance.
"Afo edi unam ikot mkpo." (You are the animal that finds what you seek.)
We are always in search of healing, truth, and liberation, but it is often already within us, waiting to be reclaimed. If this journey calls to you, I invite you to continue the conversation with me on Substack, where I reflect more deeply on these themes and share tools for embodied healing and indigenous wisdom in practice.
Let’s walk this path of remembrance and restoration together.
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Dr. Udim Isang, The (Em)Body Doctor & Nigerian Healer
Dr. Udim Isang, DPT, EdD, Mbia Idiong, is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Executive Leadership Educator passionate about indigenous healing, mindfulness, and movement therapy. As a queer, trans, immigrant, and neuro-distinct individual, they/they/it/we advocate for bridging healthcare equity and inclusive wellness practices. Learn more about their transformative work integrating mind, body, and spirit at the intersections of identity and healing.
