Witchcraft in Contemporary African Society

I. Introduction The emergence of enlightenment and modern rationalism opens the way to a world view that does not need to doubt magic to explain the mysterious phenomenon of the world. It is not so in Africa. Faith in the existence of witches can hurt others by using mysterious power, which is part of common cultural knowledge. Samuel Waje Kunhiyop said: "Almost all African society believes in some form magic, belief in magic is a traditional way to explain the ultimate cause of evil, misfortune or death." Africa's worldview Is comprehensive.

Magical research is related to anthropological research, especially religious related research. Therefore, anthropological stories about magical beliefs and practices in African society tend to place these beliefs and practices within the framework of traditional religious beliefs. School of thought. The first is magical research by traditional ethnographic magazine method. From a theoretical point of view, the focus is on the structure and function of magical beliefs and practices in the social structure of society and the community. Their main argument is that individual beliefs will satisfy the need for social existence and contribute to the purpose of social expectations.

Changes in the pattern of magic and its belongings displayed at the Livingstone Museum of Art from the 1930s to 1973, the Mufuzi Lusaka National Museum in Zambia

The term magic is used by many different people and the recognition of that term depends on the social part that uses that term. E. E Evans-Pritchard (1937) published magic, gods, and magic in Azande, focusing on irrational beliefs. In his work, he translated African Zande word mangu into English word magic. By so doing, Evans-Prichard set an anthropological definition of magic. The importance of his excursion is highlighted with the following quotation.

African magic: There are many kinds of magic in Africa. Azande of Central Africa believes that magic causes various misfortune. Mang, a magical "gift", is inherited from parent to child. People who have Mangoo do not know that, they unconsciously perform magic while they are sleeping. Folk magic of the Appalachian Mountains: Those practicing witchcraft in the Appalachian mountains regard the good and evil as two different powers led by Christian gods and devils. They believe that their magic can not fix certain conditions. They also believe that witches have supernatural powers that can carry out powerful magic for the purpose of good and evil. They want a sign of nature and a sign of the future