Witchcraft, magic and divination : accounts from the wimbum area of the Cameroon grassfields / Patrick Mbunwe Samba.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mbunwe-Samba, Patrick.

Contributor:

Project

Series:

UPCC book collections on Project M

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Witchcraft--Cameroon.

Witchcraft.

Magic--Cameroon.

Magic.

Divination--Cameroon.

Divination.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (108 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Bamenda, Cameroon : Langaa RPCIG, c2012.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This book is largely the personal account by Patrick Mbunwe Samba, of how life in his home village of Binshua has been permeated throughout by belief in witchcraft. The book not only provides a historical account informed by his reminiscences of his childhood, it shows as well that even today, belief in witchcraft is very widespread. Witchcraft exerts a profound influence on society in Binshua and in Cameroon in general. The book also provides accounts of the experiences of others, some of them very recent, and gives examples of what injustices and suffering can be caused by the notion that any misfortune must have been caused by witchcraft. For the overwhelming majority of people in village communities such as Binshua, Samba argues, anything not immediately understandable is witchcraft which is synonymous with mystery. Many educated Africans, too, revert to such traditional attitudes in stressful situations. It may be thought surprising that in spite of the impact of Christianity, Western culture and the improved level of education, the majority of people still believe in witchcraft, and that this phenomenon not only persists but is actually increasing. The book perplexes and challenges by avoiding to provide simple answers to the question whether which witchcraft is real or imagined.

Contents:

Cover

Title page

Copyright page

Contents

Acknowledgments

Preface

1. Witchcraft, Magic and Divination. A Personal Testimony

Introduction

The role of the Chief

Types of Witchcraft beliefs

Divination and sorcery as counter-measures

The Arts of Divination, Sorcery and Weather-magic recalled

The Medicine-men (ngaa-mchep ) of Binshua and the Wimbum area

2. The Witness of Other People

The Witness of Gallus Nchanji

The Witness of Frederick Ngala Njeke

The Witness of Two Churchmen in Binshua: Emmanuel Njiko and Thomas Yinkfu

The Case of a Former Politician

The Witness of Paul N. Langdji

The Witness of Thomas Kimbi

3. Witchcraft and the Law

4. Witchcraft and Religion

5. Conclusion

References

Back cover.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9789956728039

9956728039

9789956728978

9956728977

OCLC:

820860184