Yes, belief in witchcraft widespread in Africa

By: Ngovi Kitau

On Sunday, September 17 2006, Dr David Githii, the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa, delivered a stunning and brave sermon in Ol Kalou, Nyandarua, accusing MPs and other leaders of practising witchcraft.

And he was right. Findings by two researchers, working separately, show that witchcraft in African societies is widespread and monumental. In a research paper, A different magic, published in April, Michela Wrong writes: "Magic permeates modern African society. MPs use it before elections, football teams apply it to psyche out rivals and students resort to it before exams. Shop owners use it to destroy rivals, and Aids sufferers use it in a desperate attempt to survive."

Another research paper by Mohammed A Diwan, Conflict Between State Legal Norms and Norms Underlying Popular beliefs: Witchcraft in Africa as a Case Study, he writes: "Belief in witchcraft is prominent in the African continent and witch killings are alarmingly high."

There is, therefore, no doubt that across Africa, beliefs in witchcraft have run amok. But what is of concern and worrying is Diwan’s finding that "witch killings are alarmingly high". Let me put this point into perspective through a tragic event in Uganda last month.

In central Uganda, there were claims of jinns attacking people and raping women at night. One day, a dishevelled and scruffy young woman was spotted in a village called Kikandwa. All of a sudden, a scared peasant took to his heels, shouting that the woman was a jinn.

Instantly, the public set on her with sticks and stones. Some Good Samaritans opposed to the mob injustice alerted the police. When the officers arrived, and to the surprise of the Good Samaritans, they finished the jinn off by pumping six bullets into her body.

In pain, the woman cried: "Who will take care of my six children?" Then she died.

When investigation was done, it was established that the woman was innocent, came from a village called Kisoro and was on her way to Mubende to trace her husband, a migrant labourer working in a forest plantation.

The woman was in a poor physical state because she had been in the neighbourhood for several days and was exhausted, had not bathed for days and was mentally distressed.

The execution of an innocent woman not only demonstrates how dangerous and destructive witchcraft beliefs can be, but it also reflects the collapse of modern values and sanity in our society.

Many innocent people have lost their lives because of the widespread belief among Africans that witchcraft is the cause of their many misfortunes. In his research paper, Diwan gives an example of Tanzania where approximately 400 alleged witches were killed in three years — between 1997 and 2000.

This happened in the western part of Tanzania, mainly among the Sukuma ethnic group where founding President Julius Nyerere came from. Diwan also points out that "reports in other regions of Tanzania show that more than 500 people, most of them women, were killed in various witchcraft incidents over a four year period".

Other than Githii who started a public debate on this issue, most of us remain mum yet we know belief in witchcraft is absolute rubbish. Wrong has confirmed this point.

In reference to ng’ata, a protective Kamba charm administered by Dr Kilungya Mwinzile, the best-known medicineman in Ukambani, Wrong writes: "Here is a charm based on the assumption that the outside world is out to get you. It’s a potion premised on paranoia, a terrible insight into how hostile many Kenyans believe their surroundings to be. They have seen living standards plummet since independence and the promises of democracy wither and die."

The real tragedy is that MPs and other leaders who should enlighten and guide rural peasants out of ignorance are actually the perpetrators of the archaic and evil beliefs. Diwan writes: "In south eastern Cameroon, the elite has used the fear of witchcraft to emphasise its power over others, and they manipulate witchcraft beliefs through the Press and public rumour to support the otherwise fragile basis of their authority."

This is the reason many MPs in Kenya practise witchcraft. In his sermon a week ago, the local Press quoted Githii saying that more than 60 per cent of Kenyan MPs are involved in witchcraft and that some carry charms and amulets to help them sort out personal problems.

Last Thursday, The Standard reported that his claim was supported by Mr Akiba Bakari, a self-acclaimed ghost buster in Coast Province, and Mzee Kazungu wa Simba, a medicineman from Matuga constituency in Kwale District.

The two men confirmed that Cabinet ministers and MPs in Government and Opposition frequent their homes. In an interview with journalists, they said their diaries are actually full with politicians’ appointments ahead of the General Election next year!

Something must be done to bring this to an end if we are to liberate Africa from archaic, dangerous, harmful and retrogressive beliefs. African governments should start campaigns on television and radio and other media to educate the people that witchcraft should have no place in modern Africa.

They should also advise the public to desist from taking the law into their hands and killing suspected sorcerers.

Finally, religious leaders must emulate Githii’s actions and preach against witchcraft and expose MPs and other leaders who practise witchcraft.

In doing this, we will have used our efforts and energies to reinstate modern values and sanity in our society.

Many of the problems that face Africa could be resolved if witchcraft was demystified and exposed.
local Press quoted Githii saying that more than 60 per cent of Kenyan MPs are involved in witchcraft and that some carry charms and amulets to help them sort out personal problems.

Last Thursday, The Standard reported that his claim was supported by Mr Akiba Bakari, a self-acclaimed ghost buster in Coast Province, and Mzee Kazungu wa Simba, a medicineman from Matuga constituency in Kwale District.

The two men confirmed that Cabinet ministers and MPs in Government and Opposition frequent their homes. In an interview with journalists, they said their diaries are actually full with politicians’ appointments ahead of the General Election next year!

Something must be done to bring this to an end if we are to liberate Africa from archaic, dangerous, harmful and retrogressive beliefs. African governments should start campaigns on television and radio and other media to educate the people that witchcraft should have no place in modern Africa.

They should also advise the public to desist from taking the law into their hands and killing suspected sorcerers.

Finally, religious leaders must emulate Githii’s actions and preach against witchcraft and expose MPs and other leaders who practise witchcraft.

In doing this, we will have used our efforts and energies to reinstate modern values and sanity in our society.

Many of the problems that face Africa could be resolved if witchcraft was demystified and exposed.