How Does Black Magic Affect Malawi’s Life and Culture?

Christaine Butin

Mrs. French

English 2H- F

9 October 2015

How Does Black Magic Affect Malawi’s Life and Culture?

Poof! Now a curse is brought upon the land. This incident happened in Malawi and the

rest of Africa. This curse has brought chaos to people. The curse is called black magic. Black magic includes witchcraft, conjury, sorcery, and much more. It has become a problem because it takes over people’s daily routines and essentially becomes an epidemic of evil that cannot be reversed and taken back. Witchcraft and other kinds of black magic are the center of African and Malawian life, including their social and religious beliefs, which lead to witch hunts.

Black magic is implemented by bringing evil ato one’s adversary for personal and

nefarious purposes. This includes many types but the most infamous is witchcraft. Witchcraft is a type of black magic that is essentially a symbol of evil in the world. This term can mean many things but it is a term for an evil witch or sorcerer who has supernatural power and almost out of this world (Nyabwari and Kagema).  A witch is a human being who uses witchcraft for evil purposes. The purpose can be anything from jealousy to murdering someone (Byrne). Some African cultures believe witches are cannibals that feast on blood and, like vampires, suck the life out of them. Sorcerers are witches, but are believed to work through simple causes of a particular problem. Sometimes, they are believed to rely on a god or spirit’s power leading to the belief of witches using demons (Russell). Sorcerers, unlike witches, do not instantly kill but harm for a specific time. The only similarity between the two is that they both can perform natural magic or thaumaturgy. This includes casting spells and incantations. (Nyabwari and Kagema)

 All humans claim to have an ability to get this power, meaning a normal average human

being can be a potential witch without any special ritual or ceremony. A witch is not conscious about his or her own power which means that a person can be rich and successful or poor and old and can be a witch. The power of witchcraft can be bought, acquired, or even inherited. These actions are out of the ordinary and are in secret. Some of these actions include handling feces, urine, or vomit, moving around naked, and engaging in incest. They even cause people to do the same and kill and eat flesh of others. Witches are also able to transform into animals or go into spirit bodies to attend spirit assemblies to do their purpose (Nyabwari and Kagema).

Another type of black magic is conjury. This is a big part of Africa next to witchcraft

because conjurers are the ones who actually implement the magic. Conjury is a spiritual power that is called upon for diverse purposes that include healing, protection, and self-defense. Conjurers are the people involved in the confusion of religion (Chireau 12). Whatever the conjurer’s purpose is, they want to get control and get into the minds of people by interrupting their social and religious lives.

Although many things are involved while using supernatural power, it can affect social

lives. Magical power affects social life in many ways. This applies to everyone from ordinary people to slaves. People can use magic to help themselves or to bring wrath upon their enemies. They use it for defensive purposes and some use it for increasing economic morale and for health (Nyabwari and Kagema). Some people use magic for defense. For example, Mr. Phiri in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, used a specific magic called mangolomera which made him strong and powerful. The bad side to this black magic is he will continue getting strong and he is like a time bomb ready to explode. He almost killed an innocent farmer (Kamkwamba 14). Others might use love magic to increase attractiveness and to boost their love lives, to obtain influence, or for spiritual cleansing (Nyabwari and Kagema). Some slaves even decide to use magic. An example would be a witch doctor who used magic to discipline a slave owner by making a doll out of mud of his image and sticking a thorn in the back of the doll.  The witchdoctor kept the thorn in there until he thought he learned his lesson (Chireau 16). The involvement of magic equals having possession of charms, amulets, and medicine rubbed on people who want this type of power. These possessions counteract the malevolent effects of power. These items can also obtain magic-filled items containing the same power. These cost a fortune and people will pay for it out of desperation (Nyabwari and Kagema). For example, they might use charms to prevent them from being whipped for punishment by using a “voodoo bag” which was believed for having the power to prevent from being whipped (16). Mystical power is transmitted through these magical items and can be used to protect property, family and animals (Nyabwari and Kagema).

Although magic affects African social life, it also affects religious beliefs. Among these

religions are Christianity. This has been affected the most. In Africa, witchcraft beliefs incorporate their religious beliefs. This means people accept Christianity but believe there is still mystical power in the universe which caused some problems (Nyabwari and Kagema). For example, people would find slaves incorporating parts of Christianity with superstition. Christian leaders and conjurers in slave villages were given the right to maintain spiritual traditions. A priest named William Webb prepared special roots that were supposed to give peace between owners and slaves. This was used with prayer (14). Eventually, the outcome grew worse. For example, things said in the Bible were interpreted differently. Conjurers interpreted the Bible as the “greatest Conjure book in the world” while Moses was “honored as the greatest conjurer” (25). Another unusual thing used when religion and magic were combined is using medicinal items that are used by witch doctors: