„The Witches of Gambaga“ by Yaba Badoe (2010) – Review
In Ghanas’ Northern-Regions’ multi-ethnic landscape seven settlements still differ more than any other from the rest: They are a ghetto for mostly elderly women but also younger ones and men who were accused of perpetrating witchcraft-crimes. Most popular is the perception of a witch leaving her sleeping body behind and meeting with other souls of witches in the bush to cannibalize human souls, preferably those of relatives. Sickness and death are commonly related to witchcraft and accusations are often backed by dreams that are believed to serve as a nexus to the spiritual world. While treated different in many regions and circumstances, malicious witchcraft is a capital offense in most areas of Ghana and therefore lynchings, harrassments, evictions and torture are likely to happen to those who fall victim to a witchcraft-accusation. Those who escape lynching are brought to shrines for an ordeal or run away to the cities and the settlements for witch-hunt-victims.
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