Via the blog Withcraft: Physical or Spiritual?:
Marco Methuselah • 3 years ago
Dr Onyinah has presented a very interesting topic whether witchcraft is spiritual or physical. He observes only from one point of view (Akan perspective). Just as it is difficult to speak of an African Culture using one context to present the whole of Africa, it is still difficult to answer the question raised by Dr Onyinah whether witchcraft is spiritual or physical. Using a Sukuma context from Northwest Tanzania witchcraft is both spiritual and physical. It is believed by local Wasukuma people that in order for a witch to travel from one place to another he/she needs a physical vessel such as a bird, hyena, snake, dog or a black cow. Two very known male witches attended a funeral of my grandmother. At mid-night while almost everybody had slept, they began discussing how they travel responding to a witchcraft call. They were saying “when I began riding my motorcycle (swahili pikipiki)” I met somebody . . . on my way (mentioned another female witch) whom I all know. Then, I asked the friend of my father named Magoso “what do you mean by motorcycles” then they laughed at me saying that “you are still a young pastor but we can tell you. . . . By motorcycles they meant hyenas and some animals that are accepted in witchcraft transport. Birds are called ndege which means aeroplanes.
Therefore, in Sukumaland a witch uses a physical vessel. This physical vessel as a means of transport, and physical roots as medicine. It would not be enough for the physical means of transport to run, fly without a spiritual power. Spiritual power is needed for a witch on a hyena to run with very high speed or bird to fly in a very high speed. This brings us to a conclusion that witchcraft is also spiritual.
Pentecostal believers and preachers have articulated that witchcraft is a demon or spirit. I have heard pentecostal preachers who say that in order for a witch to fly in basin (traditional tool made from plants locally known as ungo) he/she needs a spirit/demon to enable the movement. We can hear in churches and in open air gospel meetings rebuke the power of witchcraft in name of Jesus. This is just an indication that witchcraft is spiritual.
Whether witchcraft is spiritual or physical or is both spiritual and physical is just an indication that witchcraft in Africa is a reality. It is there. There are people who bewitch others. There are people who have been bewitched in one way or another and there are also people who have been never bewitched. In Northwest Tanzania almost everyone has been tempted to be bewitched, made sick, and got healed whether from a diviner or prayed for by a pastor or a preacher.
The issue of witchcraft has to be given a theological respond. When I was pastoring in Sukumaland, members of the church would come saying that they had seen somebody (identifying somebody they know trying to bewitch him/her. When we prayed they said they had peace in their houses. When somebody is walking at night then meet a dog or hyena both non-Christians and Christians do not believe if they were really animals. They see witchcraft from a spiritual point of view. This blog discussion will finally come to a good conclusion and solution of the problem. These articles we are discussing should also be printed in a book to enable those who had no time and skills viewing Henry blog on witchcraft and witch accusation.
Thanks,
Marco Methuselah.
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