African witchcraft and otherness pdf

Section ii of this article examines witchcraft accusations through an international human rights lens. The third type of witchcraft, very similar to the first is reflective of a community of evil. The african ejournals project has digitized full text of. For all those who believe that the future of philosophy is pluralistic and crosscultural, elias kifon bongmbas african witchcraft and otherness offers a unique view of that future. Download african witchcraft and otherness pdf ebook african witchcraft and otherness african witchcraft and otherness e witchcraft and refugees new issues in refugee research research paper no.

Of the congo chad kenya libya central african republic uganda 300 km 0 0 150 300 mi 150 zande district area occupied. African in this context refers to african black people who are residents of south africa and fall within the zulu, xhosa, sotho, tsonga and venda ethnic. This otherness, resulting in abuse and violence, forces children with albinism, their families and communities to be ever watchful in maintaining protection and safety. African continent as compared to films whose success is located in elite audiences such as films produced under the. A philosophical and theological critique of intersubjective relations by elias kifon bongmba pp. Meaning of witchcraft witchcraft is believed in almost all african societies. The history of scholarship on witchcraft in africa has been shaped by a combination of western. African people have attempted to align themselves linguistically with dominant economic powers to avoid ridicule haar 2007. The findings indicate that, witchcraft is a lived reality in congo as well as in africa, and certain people fall into poverty as a result of the oppressive forces of witchcraft. According to traditional navajo belief, when a witch travels at night, he wears the skin. African witchcraft is not easy to define when you consider there are more than 50 different nations currently making up the diverse population of the continent.

He has published other articles on ethical dimension of witchcraft in the context of the christian church. African belief in witchcraft has also led to horrific murders and mutilations in recent years. Elias kifon bongmba combines his teaching of african religions and his research in theology and philosophy of religion working with african philosophical ideas and continental philosophy. Abstract a comparison between a forest and a vegetable plot illustrates problems arising from ignoring cultural differences in contemporary mission. It presents a brief comparative analysis of african witchcraft laws, the history and current status of malawis colonialera witchcraft act, and the tensions between the. Of the congo chad kenya libya central african republic uganda 300 km 0 0 150 300 mi 150 zande district area occupied by the azande. Witchcraft witchcraft in africa and the world britannica. The african church and crisis of aids 2007, the dialectics of transformation in africa 2006, which won the 2007 franz fanon prize for outstanding work in caribbean thought, and african witchcraft and otherness. The impact of magic and witchcraft in the social, economic. In african societies, the distinction between witchcraft, sorcery, evil magic, and evil eye. Despite that, africa has more than 1,000 ethnic groups and 6,000 different tribes, each with its own lifestyle, language, religion, and social customs. Elias kifon bongmba this work of african philosophy and theology uses the thought of emmanuel levinas to provide an analysis of tfu witchcraft among the wimbum people of cameroon along with a critique of. Writing the world from an african metropolis achille mbembe and sarah nuttall there is a manner about johannesburg, it makes the impression of a metropolis.

Witchcraft has its roots deep in african history and culture, long before the dawn of colonization. Witchcraft and violence in ghana openedition journals. The english word witchcraft refers to all sorts of sorcery and magic, often emphasising destructive, evil intentions. In 2008, a mob of hundreds of young men killed eight women and three men in two villages in rural. African witchcraft article about african witchcraft by. Although defined differently in disparate historical and cultural contexts, witchcraft has often been seen, especially in the west, as the work of crones who meet secretly at night, indulge in cannibalism and orgiastic rites with the devil, and. The best books on african religion and witchcraft recommended by jean fontaine. African witchcraft religion, spiritualism, and occult africa is the second largest continent in the world, yet it has a population of only 400 millionjust twothirds that of europe. This work focuses on the production of discourse on witchcraft in relation to colonial and postcolonial statecraft in coastal kenya. The modern african witchhunts in 2014, a tanzanian human rights group estimated that 500 suspected witches were killed in tanzania annually. It distinguishes between two sets of terms for magical harm, the mijikenda term utsai and the term witchcraft, and uses this analytical distinction to draw attention to the different worlds from which utsai and witchcraft emerge, and to frame each discourse on. A philosophical and theological critique of intersubjective relations 2001. Anthropologists view withcraft as a psychic act which, in the words of evanpritchard 1937.

Pdf african witchcraft in theological perspective researchgate. Witchcraft accusations against children in africa wikipedia. This paper examines the impact of witchcraft as an integral feature of traditional culture on african existence, notably community life, religion. Taking an approach he calls critical contextualism, author elias bongmba employs levinass philosophy, particularly the concept of the other, to engage in. Anobo, in their manual of african philosophy, believe they are obliged to. In african languages this distinction is not made, that is why i. Elias kifon bongmba holds the harry and hazel chavanne chair in christian theology and is professor of religious studies at rice university. Witchcraft, the exercise or invocation of alleged supernatural powers to control people or events, practices typically involving sorcery or magic. Pdf this article is a theological contribution aimed at creating an understanding of the phenomenon of witchcraft in south africa.

Witchcraft, culture, and theology in african development. Rethinking religion, magic and witchcraft in south africa. Elias bongmba is harry and hazel chavanne chair in christian theology and professor of religion. In witchcraft, violence, and democracy in south africa, adam ashforth examines how people in soweto and other parts of postapartheid south africa manage their fear of evil forces such as witchcraft. African witchcraft and otherness a philosophical and theological critique of intersubjective relations book. Different african tribes refer to witchcraft differently. Witchcraft, violence and mediation in subsaharan africa in the greater majority of the world, the threat of witchcraft is a daily reality, where people live within a state of spiritual insecurity, vulnerable to psychic attack from those around them. Witchcraft and oracles in africa n i l e w h i t e n i l e n i l e blu e n i l e riv e r m b o mu river u ele red sea khartoum port sudan kassala al obeid kusti wau juba egypt sudan eritrea ethiopia dem. African witchcraft and otherness book chicago public.

Millin, the south africans t his special issue of public culture is, and is not, about africa. A pastoral perspective article pdf available in black theology an international journal 161. With the coming of colonialism, however, africa was impacted on political, social, and economic levels, which are linked to the occult, and have led to a culture in which women are further to blame and are oppressed. A powerful ethnographic study of witchhunting in 1980s south africa a period of rapid social change with the dismantling of apartheid and the reinstating of the anc this book demonstrates the extent to which witchcraft must be seen, not as a residue of traditional culture but as part of a. African witchcraft article about african witchcraft by the. Rethinking religion, magic and witchcraft in south africa 25 society there was little to no debate on what constituted right religion that was, for the most part, a closed and coherent category, quite rigid in terms of what beliefs and practices could be included and which were unquestionably excluded. A philosophical and theological critique of intersubjective relations bongmba, elias kifon on. The wileyblackwell companion to african religions ebook. Pdf witchcraft and african development researchgate. A short history of african philosophy peace palace library.

The theoretical approaches to witchcraft taken by j. However, under every belief of any human group, there is a philosophical conception of some kind which explains. In both haitian voodoo and black voodoo or witchcraft, both have a belief in the crossroads. Bongmba uses levinas to critique tfuthe result being a rich and controversial study of the application of western philosophy to african society. Lightning and witchcraft in southern africa ab s tract there are man y different myths, beliefs and traditions regarding lightning in southern african countries today. This work of african philosophy and theology uses the thought of emmanuel levinas to provide an analysis of tfu witchcraft among the wimbum people of cameroon along with a critique of intersubjective relations. Generally speaking, witchcraft appears to be more relevant in west africa than in east africa today, and there are great differences between countries and tribes. Witchcraft or witchery is the practice of magical skills and abilities. Herbal magick a witchs guide to herbal folklore and. The same dichotomy between sorcery and witchcraft exists sometimes more ambiguously in the beliefs of many peoples throughout the world.

Download african witchcraft and otherness pdf ebook african witchcraft and otherness african witchcraft and otherness e. Belief in witchcraft widespread in africa live science. This is partly true because the nkfu exerts much in. The cosmology of witchcraft in the african context digital. The best books on african religion and witchcraft five. Witchcraft witchcraft witchcraft in africa and the world. Other writers suggest that at the center of this society is the nkfu of each town. Taking an approach he calls critical contextualism, author elias. African witchcraft brought to america during the slave trading years. Not to mention the thousands of years of history on top of that. This has created real confusion as to what an african is. Witchcraft accusations against children in africa have received increasing international attention in the first decade of the 21st century the phenomenon of witchhunts in subsaharan africa is ancient, but the problem is reportedly on the rise, due to charismatic preachers such as helen ukpabio, as well as urbanization, poverty, conflict and fragmenting communities. Again, witches are typically seen as particularly active after dusk, when lawabiding mortals are asleep.

Witchcraft, violence, and democracy in south africa, ashforth. A philosophical and theological critique of intersubjective relations. African societies conceptualize witchcraft as a problem and helps to locate witchcraft. A philosophical and theological critique of intersubjective relations, bongmba explored intersubjective relations by probing the ethics of witchcraft using the philosophy of emmanuel levinas. A journal of african american religious history issn. Implicit to the third type of witchcraft is that witches form a cult and can teach their children the art of magic. Witchcraft sometimes under the disguise of christianity. Alterity is a term that refers to difference or otherness. Witchcraft, culture, and theology in african development jim harries kima international school of theology maseno, kenya. Conflicting scenarios in postcolonial africa volume 41 issue 3 diane ciekawy, peter geschiere skip to main content accessibility help we use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. A philosophical and theological critique of intersubjective relations elias kifon bongmba a bold work of african philosophy and theology that brings together witchcraft and the philosophy of levinas. A philosophical and theological critique of intersubjective relations, explored intersubjective relations by probing the ethics of witchcraft using. Ashforth examines the dynamics of insecurity in the everyday life of soweto at the turn of the twentyfirst century.

In this community, witches share common goals, assist each other in harming enemies and even combine forces to harm others levack, 1995. Jan 29, 2019 babies born with the inherited condition albinism, resulting in reduced melanin pigment in their hair, skin and eyes, are vulnerable in multiple ways in africa. Elias bongmba combines his teaching of african religions and his research in theology and philosophy of religion working with african philosophical ideas and continental philosophy. The theory of witchcraft amongst south african natives.

Taking an approach he calls critical contextualism, author elias bongmba employs levinass philosophy, particularly the concept of. Krige 1947 in reference to the lovedu, monica wilson 1951 in her comparison of the mpondo of south africa with the nyakyusa, and siegfried frederick nadel 1952 in his comparison of four west african peoples are of a more psychological orientation, showing varying degrees of. Witchcraft is a broad term that varies culturally and societally, and thus can be difficult to define with precision historically, and currently in most traditional cultures worldwide notably in asia, south america, africa, the african diaspora, and indigenous communities the term is commonly associated with those. In a more popular sense, the term witchcraft is used to designate the harmful employment of mystical power in all of its manifestations mbiti, 1969. A bold work of african philosophy and theology that brings together witchcraft and the philosophy of levinas. There can be a demonic mixture in the black churches that came in through a revival of african.

The emeritus professor of social anthropology at the london school of economics and author of speak of the devil says the dinka and the nuer are famous in anthropology for not being preoccupied with misfortune. Witchcraft rituals are practiced in secrecy and often at night. Witchcraft, culture, and theology in african development jim. Voodoo and witchcraft africans and westerners experience. A bold work of african philosophy and theology that brings together witchcraft and the. The otherness of children with albinism, as experienced by children themselves and perceived by others, incurs barriers to both being and doing franklin et al. According to evanspritchard 1961 and magesa 1997, every human being is potentially a witch. This is an extraordinary contemporary account of witchcraft and witchhunting in the modern world. Despite that, africa has more than 1,000 ethnic groups and 6,000 different tribes, each with its own. May 16, 2001 for all those who believe that the future of philosophy is pluralistic and crosscultural, elias kifon bongmbas african witchcraft and otherness offers a unique view of that future.