Poverty, misery, frustration, desperation and hopelessness have driven Africans to look for scapegoats or somebody to hold responsible or blame for the ills of the society. Many Africans consult and rely on spiritual healers and diviners, prophets, imams and pastors who often attribute social problems to malevolent magic and witchcraft. Witches are generally perceived to be enemies of the society. So, suspicions of witchcraft evoke feelings of hatred, anger and vengeance. People react violently towards anyone identified as a witch in a family or community. People believe a witch deserves no mercy or compassion. They believe a witch should be tortured and suffered to die as written in the Christian scriptures. There is no evidence witches exist outside human imagination or that witches cause death, misery and accidents as most Africans believe. Unfortunately, people are traditionally brought up to associate evil acts and misfortune with the occult. This mentality is reinforced by the dogmas and doctrines of the dominant religions of Christianity and Islam. In many parts of Africa, diviners, magicians and soothsayers, pastors, imams and prophets exist, operate and market their paranormal wares. Churches, shrines and faith clinics proliferate. The growing business of divination and exorcism (deliverance) has made it difficult to combat this mistaken belief and the suffering and death - Leo Igwe, University of Bayreuth, Germany.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Dec 2014 06:35:59 +0000