Author Archive | Wicasta

INDIA – A mother named Neelu, 25, and her three-year-old son were burned to death on April 2, 2013 in Pandhurna in Chhindwara district. They had been accused of practicing witchcraft by their neighbors, who suspected that the woman was a tonhi (sorceress). Their accusations resulted in the neighbors beating Neelu before they poured kerosene [...]

PETAUKE, ZAMBIA - Two elderly people have been axed to death in the Eastern Province of Zambia on suspicion of practicing witchcraft. Police Public Relations Officer Ms. Elizabeth Kanjela announced that Phanele Lupiya aged 63 of Chakumanika Village in Petauke was axed to death by her nephew, Lovemore Mwanza, aged 30 of the same village. “The [...]

The witch hunters have been busy this week. Reports of attacks came in from Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda. Kenya: Gang Burns Houses Over Witchcraft Allegations Fifteen family members of the Talai clan in Nandi County, Kenya are camping at a church after attackers who accused them of being witches torched their houses. Seven houses were [...]

One of many such stories. The photograph accompanying this article was taken in 2013. Or 2012 at the earliest. This is not ancient history. What follows are excerpts from an article at The Global Mail about Papua New Guinea, where belief in black magic persists and women are blamed, accused of sorcery and branded as [...]