Witchcraft and its impact on black African Christians: A lacuna in the ministry of the Hervormde Kerk in Suidelike Afrika

Abstract

Witchcraft is presented as a threat to the life and well-being of the people of Africa, their embracement of Christianity notwithstanding. This article seeks to highlight the negative impact of witchcraft beliefs and experiences among many African people, including Christians and the educated, that is, "educated" in the western sense. The article identifies a lacuna in the Hervormde Kerk in Suidelike Afrika's ministry to the sick and to those who find themselves engulfed by misfortune in one form or another and believed to have been caused by witchcraft. The article points to the need for a ministry that will be relevant and meaningful in addressing the illnesses and misfortunes of black African Christians.

A pastoral examination of the Christian Church’s response to fears of and reactions to witchcraft amongst African people in the Limpopo province of South Africa

“…Thus, only the traditional healers like sangomas and inyangas are believed to be able to avert or deal with them successfully (Maboea 2002:19). This belief is still held even by some Christians and that is why Manala (2004) argues as follows:…”

The Greek evil eye, African witchcraft, and Western ethnocentrism

“…Jacob Manala (2004Manala ( :1503 puts it as follows: "In the minds of many African people there is no doubt as to the reality of witchcraft … For many African people it is an existential reality." Illnesses, misfortune and disturbances are almost always attributed to evil spirits that have been caused to come upon the unfortunate person or family 12 Relic: "part of a person's body or belonging kept as object of reverence" (Swannell 1986:460).…”

“…When witches are identified, one can know against whom to protect oneself, on whom to take revenge, and whom to chase out of the community. However the most popular method of doing away with those who are suspected of or are caught practicing witchcraft, is by hunting them down and killing them (Manala 2004:1501, cf Niehaus 2001. This culminates in witch-hunts and witch-killings, that result in the deaths of particularly elderly women since they are often suspected of doing witchcraft.…”

“…Once restoration has taken place, preventative measures should be take for protection and, if the affected person is so inclined, witchcraft can be used to take revenge on the person believed to have sent the evil spirits. Therefore, in Africa witchcraft is practiced as a preventative measure as well as a reversal of witchcraft (see Manala 2004Manala :1503. Many Western societies view witchcraft, demonic possession and exorcism as outdated superstitions that can be explained and even cured by the medical sciences (see Ferdinando 1999:70;Kitshoff 1994:32).…”

“…Most African people live in constant fear of witches and their craft. "Witchcraft raises intense fear and revulsion because it destroys human life, human community and shatters dreams and visions of individuals and societies" (Manala 2004(Manala :1500. For many Africans, including Christians, evil can be attributed to witches (see Douglas 1984:102).…”