Africa, In The Grip of Witchcraft

The horrendous news about the killing of 11 people on the mere suspicion of practicing witchcraft is made more galling because 10 of them were between the ages of 70 to 90. The brutal killing of eight women and three men took place in a remote Western Kenya village and according to spokesman Charles Owino, the 11 were lynched before they were torched to death.

Eyewitness reports of the May 20, 2008 incident recounted that the mob had the support of the majority because the suspected ‘witches’ were seen listing down names of the people they were intending to bewitch. Even at the time of their death they were heard crying out the names in the list. Five of the 11 suspected witches “confessed” and begged for mercy but their pleas where left unheeded. It was also reported that 15 were killed but as of press time, only 11 bodies were found.

Families of the victims could not believe that their loved ones were brutally killed by a crazed mob when there was no tangible proof to back up their accusations of witchcraft. According Mwangi Ngunyi, Nyamaiya District head, the killers will be hunted and prosecuted.

In Kenya and in other parts of Africa it is easy to be accused of witchcraft - appearing in someone’s dream, death or illness of loved ones, and even prosperity can land one in trouble with the witch hunters. A dispute with a family member can also lead to banishment to a place strictly confined to witches. Witch hunting is rampant in small villages in Africa and the majority of the victims of women. They are beaten to death, torched, put to hard labor or banished from their homes.

Belief in witchcraft is rife in Africa, one of the poorest countries in the world. The problem is worsened by superstitions grounded on animist worship, the people’s lack of education and the absence of health services in rural areas. Until Africa does something for the basic needs of her people, the dark age will continue to grip the continent.

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