Cultural Foundations for Fear of Witchcraft in Africa

In recent years hundreds of people have lost their lives after being accused of being a witch. In Limpopo Province in South Africa alone more than 600 people were killed between 1996 and 2001 after being accused of being involved in witchcraft (ter Haar 2007:4). This is not just a South Africa problem since throughout sub-Sahara Africa (see Akrong 2007; Bongmba 2007; Okon 2012) lynchings, exile, and ostracism are typical responses aimed at those accused of witchcraft activity. Such violent responses are indicative of the fear witchcraft imposes on much of the population of Africa. This article seeks to answer questions concerning the cultural foundations that produce so much fear that people are willing to lynch and exile family members and other accused witches, fear that allows otherwise committed Christians to carry protective devices obtained from diviners and other religious practitioners, and fear that causes so much disorientation and disequilibrium among African Traditional Religionists, Christians, and Muslims alike.