Abstract
Witchcraft, a phenomenon which was and is still believed to have the power to influence the mind, body, or possessions, has existed since the beginning of humanity. Witchcraft practitioners are thought to cause disease, bad luck, sudden death, impotence, and other misfortunes. However, in ancient times, methods were sought and employed to turn malice aside or identify and punish practitioners. Still, in the end, the so-called “practitioners” were now being identified as women. Women underwent and remained under much mental torture, especially after being accused of such acts, and these accusations have continued to date. In ancient Rome, anyone caught practising witchcraft was put on trial, and death was inevitable. The same is true in Southern Africa, where anyone accused of practising witchcraft was dealt with indecisively. In Zimbabwe, for instance, there are falls known as Gandavaroyi Falls in Gokwe, which are believed to have been a place of condemnation for accused witches during the pre-colonial times; anyone suspected to be a witch would be thrown down the falls; hence the name “Gandavaroyi” meaning “throw the witches”. There are different reasons why a person may be accused of practising magic and witchcraft, evidenced by some objects they possess. This paper highlights why someone can be accused of being a witchcraft practitioner and how these practices affect society. It will establish the reasons why women are often the target of such accusations, how the phenomenon is viewed and how South African and Zimbabwean religious and cultural communities respond to these issues.
Presenters
Juliet Chipo SigaukeStudent, PhD, University of the Free State, Free State, South Africa
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Religious Community and Socialization
KEYWORDS
Religion, Witchcraft, Culture, Gender, Women, Traditional healers
