SUPERSTITION A THREAT TO DEVELOPMENT

Sir,

I recently came across a Form V SiSwati question from the syllabus: why a certain cultural event is not announced in advance and included in the calendar. Apparently, the answer to the question comprised of three main points but the one that left me shocked to the core was this one; “Kubalekelwa kutsi bantfu bangancutsi” translated to mean avoidance of witchcraft and/or ‘spiritual attacks’ by people.

Now, kuncutsa is in the school curricula! I was quickly reminded of what a friend who is a teacher was once told by a certain pupil that the reason he was absent was because he had a problem with an aching leg. When the teacher asked the pupil if she went to hospital, the response was: Batsite ekhaya kusintfu lentfo.”

I also thought of what a fellow African brother from Botswana said when his football team lost a game some time in 2016. “It’s witchcraft; you guys have the best juju in the continent,”
Again, I also thought of the stories of people coming out to announce that they have rainmaking powers and when I did the history of Southern Africa back at high school, I was told that the Mnisi clan has some rainmaking powers, and that the Magagulas have magical powers, among other things – it was in the school syllabus.

Lastly, I thought of what a pastor said in a video quite recently: “I perform miracles so that you can believe that God is there.” I saw people screaming and crying in excitement. I thought deeply about this and came to the conclusion that we have a real problem in Africa.

superstitious beliefs

Writing for the Jamaica Observer in September 2016, Nimi Princewill said African culture is deeply rooted in different kinds of superstitious beliefs. But the great fear of wizardry is a particularly disturbing one. “Some time ago, I visited the local branch of a very popular Nigerian church which was located in a developing area and was still under construction.

The intelligent preacher was rock solid in his performance until a very adventurous lizard interestingly crawled past the altar. Sermon for that Sunday was suspended for about 10 minutes in search of the ‘satanic lizard’, as the preacher hurriedly asked for a whip in order to trash the poor creature if they succeeded in finding it,” wrote Princewill. Disturbing belief! Look at how ‘spiritual attack’ is often tagged as the cause of death for people who die as a result of health-related issues

. Interestingly, very few people care to determine whether the deceased took proper care of his or her body while alive, had poor eating habits, or damaged internal organs through smoking, excessive intake of alcohol or any other scientific reason.

I mean, how many people suddenly become so cheerful whenever their palm itches? Most of us in Africa are told that an itching palm is urgent sign money is on the way. Nobody bothers to think about the possibility of the palm itching as a result of bacterial infection. Sad, isn’t it?

Unknown

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