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While the Church once gave tacit approval to witchcraft in Africa, it is now trying to shed light on this dark magic spell
By La Croix International staff | Ivory Coast
It is jokingly said that when Africans are sick they consult both a medical doctor and a witch doctor at the same time.
The former treats their external symptoms, while the latter unearths the hidden causes.
Less surprisingly, many Africans don't see any inconsistency in this!
This explains the strange and inexplicable misfortunes attributed to the nighttime adventures of witches throughout Africa.
Between 1960-2000, more than 40,000 people were rounded up for practicing witchcraft in Tanzania.
They were later put to death.
Ghana and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have also reported many unfortunate witchcraft-related incidents in recent times.
In the ambiguous line between good and evil, some Africans believe "witchcraft" morally neutral -- intrinsically, it's neither good nor bad.
Conservative and modern African leaders sometimes surround themselves with powerful protective "witch doctors" and act as "supernaturally empowered".
Though colonial leaders tried to uproot witchcraft and made it illegal in most of sub-Saharan Africa, it returned with a vengeance with successive national and local regimes.
The trans-Atlantic slave trade and colonial occupation resulted in a spiritual insecurity in the earlier centuries; and witchcraft, which was intermingled with thes elements, has survived even in the postcolonial era.
While the Catholic Church tacitly encouraged witchcraft in earlier centuries in Africa, it is now trying to shed light on the dark magic spell.
"Witchcraft is a widespread reality in Africa and it undermines our coexistence," said Paul Koukovi Zipki, a Catholic priest who directs research and journalism at the Catholic Mission Institute of Abidjan (ICMA), which was started by the White Fathers.
The Cote d'Ivoire-based institute hosted a two-day symposium earlier this month -- "Witchcraft in Africa, Ways to Liberation"-- that brought together philosophers, theologians and psychologists.
They explored the problem of witchcraft and put forth ways and means to bring about a collective change of mentality.
Wilfried Kpoda, a clinical psychologist and psychopathologist, stressed the need to overcome the fear of magicians, "which causes psychosis in people's minds".
"It is therefore necessary to develop awareness-raising, information and education initiatives with the population on the mechanisms and strategies of witchcraft," he said.
Zikpi said pastoral concerns with regard to witchcraft have to be taken to the diocese-level.
It is about "dealing well and objectively with the problem of witchcraft and integrating pastoral concerns," the priest said.
Given the racially charged atmosphere in Africa, efforts to eradicate witchcraft will take time.
And until that happens, the continent will continue producing more child witches.
The Pontifical Mission Society has been trying for years to shed light on the problem. It instituted a World Day Against Witch Hunts, which is held each year on August 10.
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