The Modernity of Witchcraft: Politics and the Occult in Postcolonial AfricaWitchcraft is viewed as both a leveling and an oppressive force: a weapon of the weak to attack the powerful but also a tool of the powerful to maintain their position. Modern witchdoctors play a pivotal role not only in local cultures but also in stories of success and failure of state politicians, businessmen, and local football teams. Since the early 1980s they have been used as expert witnesses in state trials, helping to condemn defendants by their supposed expertise, rather than by hard evidence. The belief in witchcraft pervades all political levels: President Soglo of Benin, one of the few democratically elected on the continent, nearly missed his own inauguration because of an alleged witchcraft attack. Geschiere suggests that the African state is a true breeding ground for modern transformations of witchcraft because the ambiguity of this discourse can contain both the obsession of power and the increasing feelings of powerlessness among thepeople in the face of modern developments. There are unexpected parallels here with certain aspects of politics in Western democracies. |
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The Modernity of Witchcraft: Politics and the Occult in Postcolonial Africa Peter Geschiere No preview available - 1997 |
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accumulation accusations action Africa Ahidjo Ahmadou Ahidjo ambiguity ambivalence anthropologists association authority Azande Bakossi Bakweri Bamileke Bayart become beliefs Bertua Beti Bouvignies Buea Cameroon Cameroonian chapter chief clear clients cocoa colonial context Copet-Rougier courts craft dangerous djambe djambe discourse dominate Duala East Province ekong elders emphasized especially Evina évolués Ewondo example famla Fisiy forest societies forms of wealth forms of witchcraft francs CFA gbati Geschiere Grassfields healers inequalities instance judges kaande killed kinship Kribi Kupe Mabaya Maka Medumba Mendouga Mimbang modern Mpal Mpang nganga nhong Nkal Selek notables notions nyongo Obasinjom occult forces onkong palaver party Paul Biya political politicians popular region relations riches role Rosny rumors seems sorcellerie sorcery sorcery and witchcraft sorts sous-préfet story tions tribunals urban elites village Warnier Western witchcraft and sorcery witchcraft discourse witchcraft trials witches woman women Yaunde young