How Is African Witchcraft Practiced?

Witchcraft, a term loosely defined as the belief that supernatural beings use their powers to harm others, has been present in African societies since ancient times. It has partly survived in Africa due to the failure of Islam and Christianity to liberate their followers from poverty, ignorance, and disease. However, much of what witchcraft represents in Africa has been susceptible to misunderstandings.

African societies vary in the degree that witchcraft plays in explaining everyday events and, more importantly, the role it plays in shaping social dynamics. The analysis of African occult belief systems provides a unique example for demonstrating that seemingly outdated and exotic African modes of thought, such as the belief in magic and witchcraft, are modern and not eroded.

Despite the strong media and educational influence of secularism and modernity, the African commitment to belief in witchcraft has not been eroded. This chapter explains the commitments that differ in certain respects from other anthropologists whose work engages with the dynamics and meanings of witchcraft. The focus of this work is aimed at demystifying and critiquing the existence of witchcraft effects in African belief using Hume’s causal explanation as a yardstick.

Witchcraft beliefs are encountered throughout African history in virtually all parts of the continent and continue to be an important feature of African society. There have been debates about whether witchcraft is real or based on superstition among African communities. Witchcraft is an endemic belief in African societies from time immemorial, rooted in mysterious elements of African traditional culture.

Where does the Bible talk about witchcraft?

Exodus 22:18, Leviticus 19:26, Leviticus 20:27, and Deuteronomy 18:10-11 all prohibit the practice of necromancy, divination, and soothsaying. These laws are portrayed as foreign and are the only part of the Hebrew Bible to mention such practices. The presence of laws forbidding necromancy proves that it was practiced throughout Israel’s history.

The exact difference between the three forbidden forms of necromancy mentioned in Deuteronomy 18:11 is uncertain, as yidde’oni (“wizard”) is always used together with ob (“consulter with familiar spirits”) and its semantic similarity to doresh el ha-metim (“necromancer” or “one who directs inquiries to the dead”) raises the question of why all three are mentioned in the same verse. The Jewish tractate Sanhedrin distinguishes between a doresh el ha-metim, a person who would sleep in a cemetery after starving himself, to become possessed, and a yidde’oni, a wizard.

In summary, the prohibition of necromancy in the Hebrew Bible is a significant aspect of Jewish history.

Is Juju good or bad?

Juju is a belief system practiced in West African countries like Nigeria, Benin, Togo, and Ghana, involving the use of objects infused with magical power or the magical power itself. Juju is neither good nor bad but can be used for constructive purposes or nefarious deeds. The word juju is believed to be derived from the French joujou, meaning “plaything”, or from the Hausa language, meaning “fetish” or “evil spirit”.

It operates on the principle of spiritual contagious contact based on physical contact, where two entities with similar properties can be manipulated to reach each other. Examples of juju include hair, fingernails, clothing, shoes, socks, and jewels.

Spiritual similarity can be created by deliberately placing two things in physical contact, with one entity absorbing the qualities of the other. Amulets, charms, and mascots are common forms of juju, infused with a specific type of energy, and worn for protective purposes. Wearing these objects is expected to create paths and possibilities for the wearer, guard them against ill fortunes and evil spirits.

What is African witchcraft called?

African witchcraft traditions are diverse, reflecting the continent’s rich tapestry of cultures and belief systems. These practices range from healing and divination to the worship of ancestral spirits and deities. Notable African witchcraft traditions include Vodun, Hoodoo, Santería, the Ifá/Orisha religion, and Candomblé, each with its unique blend of African, indigenous, and sometimes Christian or Catholic influences.

Scholars at Duke University found Bantu-Kongo influences in Black populations in the Americas, such as the continuation of Nkisi and Nkisi Nkondi traditions and Kongo burial traditions among African Americans in the Southern United States. These practices were done to ward places from evil spirits, conjure spirits of the dead and ancestral spirits, and for spiritual protection against witchcraft.

Conjure in Africa and the Black diaspora can be used for both negative and positive purposes, with the positive purpose being protection against evil witches who cast spells on innocent people. Many of these traditions have roots in specific African ethnic groups and have evolved over centuries in the diaspora, particularly in the Americas and the Caribbean. African witchcraft traditions play a vital role in preserving cultural heritage, offering spiritual guidance, and providing a sense of community and identity for practitioners.

What are the tribes of witchcraft in Africa?

This article explores the methods, practices, equipment, and paraphernalia of African witch doctors in performing primitive medical practices. The study focuses on the Azandes of Sudan, Manos of Liberia, Congo tribes, Bundas of Angola, and Zulus and Bantu tribes of South Africa. Primitive beliefs and customs are discussed in relation to medical practices. The medical practices mainly involve general remedies for ailments and diseases, but also include specialized fields like obstetrics, surgery, fracture treatment, and dentistry.

Primitive medicaments are presented for various illnesses, and an alphabetical list of these medicaments is provided at the end of the article. The article also provides an overview of surgical and anesthesia practice in sub-Saharan Africa during the 19th century.

What are the rules of witchcraft?

The Wiccan Rede, which states “An it harm none, do what ye will,” serves as the primary ethical guideline for Wiccans. The Threefold Law, which places emphasis on the importance of adhering to the ethical principles of “mind the Threefold Law you should, three times bad and three times good,” serves as a guiding principle for those seeking to live a positive ethical lifestyle.

How do witches get their power?

Historian Ronald Hutton outlined five key characteristics of witches and witchcraft in most cultures. These include the use of magic to cause harm or misfortune, the witch’s actions against their community, the acquisition of powers through inheritance or initiation, the belief in immorality and communion with evil beings, and the possibility of thwarting witchcraft through defensive magic, persuasion, intimidation, or physical punishment. Witches are often believed to use objects, words, and gestures to cause supernatural harm or have an innate power to do so.

E. E. Evans-Pritchard’s 1937 study on Azande witchcraft beliefs provided definitions for witchcraft, which became a convention in anthropology. However, some researchers argue that the general adoption of Evans-Pritchard’s definitions constrained discussion of witchcraft beliefs and broader discussion of magic and religion. Evans-Pritchard reserved the term “witchcraft” for actions causing harm by their inborn power and used “sorcery” for those needing tools.

Historians found these definitions difficult to apply to European witchcraft, where witches were believed to use physical techniques and some who caused harm by thought alone. The distinction has since largely been abandoned, although some anthropologists still find it relevant to the societies they study.

What is the mysterious power in African traditional religion?

Africans believe in a mystical, invisible, hidden spiritual power in the universe, originating from God and possessed hierarchically by divinities, spirits, and the living dead. This power is universally accepted and can be used for good or harm through magic, witchcraft, and sorcery. Human beings have a privileged position in the universe, as they are the link between the heavens and the earth, and everything is said to center on them. This view influences how humans relate to the universe, striving to maintain harmony by observing the moral and religious order.

Africans also believe in a hierarchy of beings, from God to lesser ones, divinities, spirits, the living dead, humans, animals, plants, and inanimate beings. Mystical power is found in all of them, diminishing degrees. This hierarchy is evident in human society, with chiefs, clan heads, family heads, and older siblings.

Another aspect of African beliefs is the moral order given by God, stipulated by ancestors in the past. Observing this order ensures harmony and peace within the community, as many laws, customs, and rules are sacred and believed to have been instituted by God. A person’s actions are considered good when they conform to the customs and regulations of the community, and bad when they do not.

Why witchcraft is feared in traditional African communities?

Witchcraft beliefs have been present in societies worldwide since ancient Mesopotamia, with the first written record dating back to ancient Mesopotamia. In many African societies, these beliefs are believed to cause unusual phenomena such as accidents, wrangles, demise, domestic and public aggression, poverty, sickness, and failure. The mystical powers are controlled by witches and wizards who possess powers that inhibit or influence these phenomena.

The belief and practice of witchcraft have negatively impacted the social, economic, political, and spiritual development in African societies. The emanation and establishment of Christianity in Africa and other parts of the world by the western world seems to provide lasting solutions over the belief. Most of those suspected or caught in the practice are confessing Christians who are regular attendees of Saturday and Sunday church gatherings. Historically, missionaries convinced Africans to join Christianity without first teaching them the causes of mystical happenings.

African Christians, despite their commitment to Christianity, still feel unsecure in their personal, physical, health, and property safety. This study uses the social change theory developed by Lauren Fitzpatrick, which defines social change as a social process where the values, attitudes, or institutions of society become modified.

Who is the African god of magic?

Heka, a prominent deity in ancient Egyptian mythology, is renowned for his abilities in healing and magic.

What are the practices of witchcraft?

Eclectic Witchcraft encompasses a range of time-honored, globally referenced magickal, spiritual, and occult practices that resonate with the individual Witch. These practices can include elements of Shamanism, Reiki, Yoga, Eastern philosophy, Buddhism, and various occult practices.

Elemental Witchery is an ancient form of the Craft, rooted in the understanding of the power of the Elements—Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. Early folk healers and magicians observed how these forces influenced their daily lives, including fire for warmth and cooking, water for drinking and farming, the earth they lived on, and the air they breathed.

Green or Hedge Witches are deeply connected to the Earth and its energy, drawn to plants, trees, and flowers. They often grow their own herbs and flowers for use in their homes, kitchens, and magick.

Kitchen Witches, Tea Witches, and Hearth or Cottage Witches are home-centric individuals who love to make their home a sacred space and welcome any kind heart and intent into it.

What are the pagan practices in Africa?

The author, an Orthodox Christian, explains that traditional African pagan practitioners, known as sorcerers and witch doctors, commune with demons and terrorize, manipulate, and sometimes murder their fellow countrymen in a brutal quest for power and supremacy. This is what rules Sierra Leone behind the scenes, a society ruled by fear. A field worker’s predecessor shared stories of stolen goods being returned due to fear of being struck and killed by a magic lightning spell. Politicians also work with these practitioners of magic to gain power. During election season in Freetown, the Orthodox Mission assigns adult escorts to ensure the safety of school children.

The author argues that people cannot be understood apart from the deities they participate in, and the old deities of Africa still have a strong hold on Sierra Leone. When one realizes this hidden underbelly of paganism and sorcery, things begin to fall into place. The author encourages people to look at their deities, understand them, and respect their practices, making friends, learning the language, respecting the people, and understanding their practices.

The author is harsh on paganism because it causes suffering for Sierra Leoneans, but is careful not to confuse the beliefs and practices with the people themselves. Regardless of their background, all people are bumbling about finding their way, little by little.