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Periodical article Periodical article
Title:Cultural Practice of the Midzichenda at Crossroads: Divination, healing, witchcraft and the statutory law
Author:Tinga, K.K.
Year:1998
Periodical:Afrikanistische Arbeitspapiere
Volume:55
Pages:173-184
Geographic term:Kenya
Discipline:Law
Subjects:Giriama - ethnic group
Spirit - possession
Witchcraft
Abstract:The Midzichenda or Mijikenda have a long history of belief in and fear of witchcraft. Both the British colonial and the postcolonial government have attempted to resolve this practice through the enactment of the Witchcraft Act, 1925, revised 1981. Unfortunately this Act turned out to be oppressive and thus unsuccessful. Diviners and healers have been misconceived and codemned wholesale as 'witchdoctors', 'wizards' or 'witches'. This misconception has seen many innocent diviners and healers arrested, arraigned in court, heavily fined and/or imprisoned, and their paraphernalia confiscated and destroyed by the state. Unless the Witchcraft Act is scrapped and replaced by a definitive law incorporating Midzichenda customary law and the enactment of a comprehensive legislative policy to protect the rights, freedom and interests of traditional diviners and healers, and until the high rate of illiteracy, economic underdevelopment and religious malnourishment in the Midzichenda community are seriously addressed, the Midzichenda will continue to live under the fear of witchcraft. (Source: ASC Documentation).
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