The Misfortunes Of Witchcraft In The African Community

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INTRODUCTION Witchcraft, a term used widely in the African communities offers an explanation to the unfortunate circumstances taking place within the society. The African belief in witchcraft has attracted several academic scholars around the world to study the notion and gain firsthand information on how it controls the lives of the people. Anthropologists like Evans-Pritchard conducted ethnographic work among the Zande to understand the concept and the strong beliefs. Misfortunes of any kind are associated with the work of witches. After reading the accounts presented by academic writers and anthropologists, the question arises. How correct are these beliefs? Is witchcraft indeed a supernatural force which can cause harm? Or is it the work …show more content…

It is concept which explains why misfortunes happen hence any problems befalling upon the Azande is taken as the work of witches. The malevolent forces can harm daily life activities like agricultural work, hunting, fishing, political and personal life. Numerous examples such as the falling of the termite mound, failure of crops, failure to catch animals and birds on a hunting expedition, sickness, and injuries all are caused due to witchcraft. It is so heavily imbibed within the community that a Zande will talk about the belief each day. (Evans-Pritchard, 1976, …show more content…

IS WITCHCRAFT A FIGMENT OF THE IMAGINATION OR HAS A BASIS IN REALITY? To outsiders and modern thinkers, the belief in witchcraft is considered imaginary. Upon researching the writings of Evans-Pritchard and Akrong, it does seem possible since certain aspects of the practice tend to target a specific margin of the community. The fact that there is no factual evidence available which may prove witches can cause harm to a person is an addition to this thought. Firstly, witchcraft is an offense which does not take place and its existence is one’s imagination. A witch cannot harm an individual solely based on emotions such as anger or jealousy (Evans-Pritchard, 1935, p.421). Deaths claimed to have been caused by witches hold little to no meaning for European government since they will not allow the accused for conviction as witchcraft is considered as an imaginary offense. Without concrete evidence to support the accusations against the accused, it can be accepted witchcraft is an esoteric paradox (Evans-Pritchard, 1935,

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