WITCHCRAFT, JUJU AND THE LIKES, A SOCIETAL. PROBLEM: WHAT NIGERIA CONSTITUTION THINKS AND SAYS

WITCHCRAFT   

Meaning:

According to Wikipedia, witchcraft(also called witchery or spellcraft) broadly means the practice of, magical skills and abilities that are able to be exercised by individuals and certain social groups. Witchcraft is a complex concept that varies culturally and societally; therefore, it is difficult to define with precision and cross-culturally assumptions about the meaning or significance of the term should be applied with caution. Witchcraft often occupies a religious, divinatory or medicinal role, and is often present within societies and groups whose cultural framework includes a magical world views(Wikipedia).

Witchcraft is a complex concept that varies culturally and societally; therefore, it is difficult to define with precision and cross-culturally assumptions about the meaning or significance of the term should be applied with caution. Witchcraft often occupies a religious, divinatory or medicinal role, and is often present within societies and groups whose cultural framework includes a magical world views(Wikipedia).

Etymology and definitions:

The word "witchcraft" derives from the Old English wiccecraeft, a compound of "wicce" ("witch") and "craft" ("craft").

In anthropological terminology, witches differ from sorcerers in that they don't use physical tools or actions to curse; their maleficium is perceived as extending from some intangible inner quality, and one maybe unaware of being a witch, or may have been convinced of his/her nature by the suggestion of others. This definition was pioneered in a study of Central African Magical Beliefs by E. E Evans-Pritchard, who cautioned that it might not correspond with normal English usage.

Historians of European witchcraft have found the anthropological definition difficult to apply to European and British witchcraft, where witches could equally use (or be accused of using) physical techniques, as well as some who really had attempted to cause harm by thought alone. European witchcraft is seen by historians and anthropologists as an ideology for explaining misfortune; however, this ideology has manifested in diverse ways, as described. Historically, the witchcraft label has been applied to practices people believe influence the mind, body, or property of others against their will -- or practices that the person doing the labelling believes undermine social or religious order.

The concept of witchcraft and belief in its existence have existed throughout history. They have been present or central at various times, and in many diverse forms, among cultures and religions worldwide, including both "primitive" and "highly advanced" cultures, and continue to have an important role in many cultures today. Scientifically, the existence of magical powers and witchcraft are generally believed to lack credence and to be unsupported by high quality experimental testing, although individual witchcraft practices and effects may be open to scientific explanation or explained through mentalism and psychology.

Historically, the predominant concept of witchcraft in the Western world derives from Old testament laws against witchcraft, and entered the mainstream when belief in witchcraft gained church approval in the Early Modern Period.

PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH WITCHCRAFT, JUJU AND THE LIKES:

Probably the most obvious characteristic of a witch was the ability to cast a spell, "spell" being the word used to signify the means employed to carry out a magical action. A spell could consist of a set of words, a formula or verse, or a ritual action, or any combination of these. Spells traditionally were cast by many methods, such as by the inscription of runes or sigils on an object to give it magical powers; by the immolation or binding of a wax or clay image (poppet) of a person to affect him or her magically; by the recitation of incantations; by the performance of physical rituals; by the employment of magical herbs as amulets or potions; by gazing at mirrors, swords or other specula (scrying) for purposes of divination; and by many other means.

Necromancy (conjuring the dead)

Strictly speaking, "necromancy" is the practice of conjuring the spirits of the dead for divination or prophecy – although the term has also been applied to raising the dead for other purposes. The biblical Witch of Endor performed it (1 Sam. 28), and it is among the witchcraft practices condemned by Ælfric of Eynsham.

"Witches still go to cross-roads and to heathen burials with their delusive magic and call to the devil; and he comes to them in the likeness of the man that is buried there, as if he arise from death"

In Christianity and Islam, sorcery came to be associated with heresy and apostasy and to be viewed as evil. Among the Catholics, Protestants, and secular leadership of the European Late Medieval/Early Modern period, fears about witchcraft rose to fever pitch and sometimes led to large-scale witch-hunts. The key century was the fifteenth, which saw a dramatic rise in awareness and terror of witchcraft, culminating in the publication of the Malleus Maleficarum but prepared by such fanatical popular preachers as Bernardino of Siena. Throughout this time, it was increasingly believed that Christianity was engaged in an apocalyptic battle against the Devil and his secret army of witches, who had entered into a diabolical pact. In total, tens or hundreds of thousands of people were executed, and others were imprisoned, tortured, banished, and had lands and possessions confiscated. The majority of those accused were women, though in some regions the majority were men. "Warlock" is sometimes mistakenly used for male witch. Accusations of witchcraft were often combined with other charges of heresy against such groups as the Cathars and Waldensians.

The Malleus Maleficarum, (Latin for "Hammer of The Witches") was a witch-hunting manual written in 1486 by two German monks, Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger. It was used by both Catholics and Protestants for several hundred years, outlining how to identify a witch, what makes a woman more likely than a man to be a witch, how to put a witch on trial, and how to punish a witch. The book defines a witch as evil and typically female. The book became the handbook for secular courts throughout Renaissance Europe, but was not used by the Inquisition, which even cautioned against relying on the work, and was later officially condemned by the Catholic Church in 1490.

In the modern Western world, witchcraft accusations have often accompanied the satanic ritual abuse moral panic. Such accusations are a counterpart to blood libel of various kinds, which may be found throughout history across the globe.

ACCUSATIONS OF WITCHCRAFT

Éva Pócs states that reasons for accusations of witchcraft fall into four general categories:

a) A person was caught in the act of positive or negative sorcery

b) A well-meaning sorcerer or healer lost their clients' or the authorities' trust

c) A person did nothing more than gain the enmity of their neighbours

d) A person was reputed to be a witch and surrounded with an aura of witch-beliefs or Occultism

She also identifies three varieties of witch in popular belief:

* The "neighbourhood witch" or "social witch": a witch who curses a neighbour following some conflict.

*The "magical" or "sorcerer" witch: either a professional healer, sorcerer, seer or midwife, or a person who has through magic increased her fortune to the perceived detriment of a neighbouring household; due to neighbourly or community rivalries and the ambiguity between positive and negative magic, such individuals can become labelled as witches.

*The "supernatural" or "night" witch: portrayed in court narratives as a demon appearing in visions and dreams.

"Neighbourhood witches" are the product of neighbourhood tensions, and are found only in self-sufficient serf village communities where the inhabitants largely rely on each other. Such accusations follow the breaking of some social norm, such as the failure to return a borrowed item, and any person part of the normal social exchange could potentially fall under suspicion. Claims of "sorcerer" witches and "supernatural" witches could arise out of social tensions, but not exclusively; the supernatural witch in particular often had nothing to do with communal conflict, but expressed tensions between the human and supernatural worlds; and in Eastern and Southeastern Europe such supernatural witches became an ideology explaining calamities that befell entire communities.

VIOLENCE RELATED TO ACCUSATIONS OF WITCHCRAFT

Belief in witchcraft continues to be present today in some societies and accusations of witchcraft are the trigger of serious forms of violence, including murder. Such incidents are common in places such as Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Nepal and India. Accusations of witchcraft are sometimes linked to personal disputes, jealousy, and conflicts between neighbors or family over land or inheritance. Witchcraft related violence is often discussed as a serious issue in the broader context of violence against women.

In Tanzania, about 500 older women are murdered each year following accusations against them of witchcraft/or being a witch. Apart from extrajudicial violence, there is also state-sanctioned violence in some jurisdictions. For instance, in Saudi Arabia practicing 'witchcraft and sorcery' is a crime punishable by death and the country has executed people for this crime in 2011, 2012 and 2014.

Children in some regions of the world, such as parts of Africa, are also vulnerable to violence related to witchcraft accusations. Such incidents have also occurred in immigrant communities in the UK, including the much publicized case of the murder of Victoria Climbié(November 2, 1991 -- February 25, 2000); was tortured and murdered by her guardians, and her death led to a public inquiry and produced major changes in "Child Protection Policies" in the United Kingdom.

JUJU

Juju or ju-ju (French: Joujou) is a spiritual belief system incorporating objects, such as amulets, and spells used in religious practices, as part of witchcraft in West Africa. The term has been applied to traditional West African religions.

The term "Juju" and the practice associated with it travelled to the America from West Africa with the influx of slaves through the Atlantic slave trade and still survives in some areas, particularly among the various groups of Maroons, who have preserved their African traditions.

Juju is sometimes used to enforce a contract or ensure compliance. In a typical scenario, a juju spell will be placed on a Nigeria woman before she is trafficked into Europe for a life in prostitution, to ensure that she will pay back her traffickers and won't escape. The witchdoctor casting the spell requires a payment for this service. Juju is also commonly used in an attempt to affect outcome of football matches.

Contrary to common belief, Vodun is not related to juju, despite the linguistic and spiritual similarities (Wikipedia) . Juju has acquired some karmic attributes in more recent times; good juju can stem from almost any good deed; bad juju can be spread just as easily. These ideas revolve around the luck and fortune portions of juju. The use of juju to describe an object usually involves small items worn or carried; these generally contain medices produced by witch doctors.

Many people, especially women, practise witchcraft in Nigeria. And evil, harm, bad things or problem associated with the practice encouraged the Federal Govement of Nigeria to prohibit its practice in the country. The stands of Nigeria government concerning witchcraft and the likes, as enshrined in her constitution, read thus;

Nigeria Constitution, Chapter 20 : 207 - 213 says:

Section 207

(1) The trial by the ordeal of sasswood, esere-bean, or other poison, boiling oil, fire, immersion in water or exposure to the attacks of crocodile or other wild animals, or by any ordeal which is likely to result in the death of or bodily injury to any party to the proceeding is unlawful.

(2) The State commissioner may by order prohibit the worship or invocation of any juju which may appear to him to involve, or tend towards the commission of any crime or breach of peace, or to the spread of any infectious or contagious disease.

Section 208

Any person who directs or controls or presided at any trial by ordeal which is unlawful is guilty of a felony, and is liable, when the trial which such person directs, controls or presides at results in the death of any party to the proceeding, to the punishment of death, and in every other case to imprisonment for ten years.

Section 209

Any person who:

a. is present at or takes part in any trial by ordeal which is unlawful; or

b. makes, sells or assists or takes part in making or selling, or has in his possession for sale or use any poison or thing which is intended to be used for the purpose of any trial by ordeal which is unlawful; 

is guilty of a misdemeanour, and is liable to imprisonment for one year.

Section 210

Any person who:

a. by his statements or actions represents himself to be a witch or to have the power of witchcraft; or

b. accuses or threatens to accuse any person with being a witch or with having the power of witchcraft; or

c. makes or sells or uses, or assists or takes part in making or selling or using, or has in his possession or represents himself to be in possession of any juju, drug or charm which is intended to be used or reported to possess the power to prevent or delay any person from doing an act which such person has a legal right to do, or to compel any person any person to do an act which such person has a legal right to refrain from doing, or which is alleged or reported to possess the power of causing any natural phenomenon or any disease or epidemic; or

d. directs or controls or presides at or is present at or takes part in the worship or invocation of any juju which is prohibited by an order of the State Commissioner; or

e. is in possession of or has control over any human remains which are used or are intended to be used in connection with the worship of invocation of any juju; or

f. makes, or uses or assists in making or using, or has in his possession anything whatsoever the making, use or possession of which has been prohibited by an order as being or believed to be associated with human sacrifice or other unlawful practice; is guilty of a misdemeanour, and is liable to imprisonment for two years.

Section 211

Any chief who directly or indirectly permits, promotes, encourages or facilitates any trial by ordeal which is- unlawful, or the worship or invocation of any juju which has been prohibited by an order, or who, knowing of  such trial, worship or invocation, or intended trial, worship or invocation, or intended trial, worship or invocation, does not forthwith report the same to administrative officer is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for three years.

The offender cannot be arrested without warrant.

Section 212

Any house, grove or place in which it has been customary to hold any trial by ordeal which is unlawful, or the worship or invocation of any juju which is prohibited by an order, may, together with all articles found therein, be destroyed or erased upon the order of any court by such persons as the court may direct.

Section 213

Any person who:

a. makes, sells or keeps for sale or for hire or reward, any fetich or charm which is pretended or reputed to possess power to protect burglars, robbers, thieves or other malefactors, or to aid or assist in any way in the perpetration of any burglary, housebreaking, robbery or theft, or in the perpetration of any offence whatsoever, or to prevent, hinder or delay the detection of or conviction for any offence whatsoever; or

b. is found having in his possession without lawful and reasonable excuse(the proof of which excuse shall lie on such person) any such fetish or charm as aforesaid, is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for five years.

However, those into witchcrafting should know that it is an evil practice, no matter what you feel or what others tell you about it. I advise that anyone that have found out that he/she is a wizard/witch should quickly run to a real man of God for total deliverance. There is life after here (on earth), and the most beautiful/perfect home or place to be is right there in Heaven; where happiness and best things abound. There is no good causing harm or putting tension in the society by belonging to a witchcraft group. You all have heard what law has said about it, and in some cases one can lose his or her life by jungle justice. Be wise and repent from evil, and be saved.