Witchcraft, justice, and human rights in Africa: cases from Malawi

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Periodical article

Title:	Witchcraft, justice, and human rights in Africa: cases from Malawi
Author:	Ashforth, Adam
Year:	2015
Periodical:	African Studies Review (ISSN 1555-2462)
Volume:	58
Issue:	1
Pages:	5-38
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Malawi
Subjects:	witchcraft human rights jurisprudence
External link:	https://doi.org/10.1017/asr.2015.2
Abstract:	The human rights approach to witchcraft accusations denies their validity and forecloses the possibility of a trial, fair or otherwise. While there is much to be said for a bracing rationalism in all aspects of life, evidence from Africa over the past couple of centuries shows no sign that witchcraft narratives lose their plausibility as a result of people being told that witches do not exist. The article focuses on two contemporary witchcraft trials from Malawi's courts. The cases are drawn from the records of proceedings in the Balaka Magistrate's Court. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. in English and French. [Journal abstract]