Relationship between Social and Economic Status and Witchcraft in Africa

The topic for this article, “Relationship between Social and Economic Status and Witchcraft in Africa,” presupposes the existence and practice of witchcraft in Africa that works to influence social and economic life. However, a number of questions need to be asked to test this presupposition. Is witchcraft in Africa a reality or an imaginary phenomenon? Does witchcraft really influence, for example, how people pursue higher education and create wealth or is it a claim that has no significance whatsoever? The purpose of this paper is to describe the relationship between socioeconomic status and witchcraft in Africa in order to show how this relationship affects how people create wealth and pursue their ambitions. Finally, I will offer a brief critical analysis of the insights gained in the article and draw a conclusion. It is hoped that the insights gained from this study will contribute to helping the church respond to the challenge of witchcraft in Africa and elsewhere. Before I do so, I first need to define the word witchcraft as it is used in this study. What is witchcraft? Witchcraft refers to at least three different phenomena. According to Moreau (2001:1279), the first phenomenon refers to a person using magical means to bring harm or provide benefits. Such people have been found in every culture in the world; some of them practice witchcraft on an individual basis, while others have institutionalized it in the form of religious sects, for example, Voodoo,1 Santeria,2 Macumba,3 etc. The Bible strongly condemns this type of witchcraft (Deut 18:10; Mic 5:12; Gal 5:20). The second phenomenon is what is referred to as “diabolical witchcraft.” It has been documented that accusations about this particular type of witchcraft arose in the medieval era, and it continues to this day. Basically, this type focuses on a witch as a person who consciously aligns with Satan (Moreau 2001:1279). The last Relationship between Social and Economic Status and Witchcraft in Africa CHRISTOPHER R. MWASHINGA