Witchcraft in Bosongo; Tales of the Believers

Introduction

Like any other African society, the Kisii community has their beliefs about supernatural abilities that are not within their understanding. Some believe that these abilities are in existent and are exercised by some members of their community. Some however acknowledge probable existence of such powers but refuse 

to believe that they are practiced at all.

Ostensibly, I classify these two factions as the “believers” and the “non-believers”. The believers, from the ordinary meaning of the word refer to the group that buys into the concept of existence of black magic whereas the non-believers don’t.  They instead attribute witchcraft to psychological aspect of those who claim to be affected in one way or another by ‘black magic’.

To non-believers, black magic and spells are a mere superstition. They further their argument that once an individual’s mind is ingrained in the superstition of witchcraft, it grows and becomes real and that they suffer consequences of their subconscious.

I believe that these factions are influenced by external factors into what to believe; education and civilization levels, traditions, experience per age, residence etc. The non-believers account struck me as scientifically modern and neither here nor there particularly when they “acknowledged” existence but refused to “believe” and attribute the whole concept to science of human psychology.

Notwithstanding the sentiments by non-believers, let’s focus on the contemporary events that I may direct to the account of the believers. Back in the year 2015, residents of Nyamira County barbecued suspected “witches” in public. This is one of the notable events I can account for having witnessed [viral video clip]. I am not privy to what resulted to their ordeal but one thing clicked in my mind: Witchcraft is practiced in Kisii.

Genesis of witchery in Kisii

This is per those who have in one way or the other, personally or through relatives or friends experienced spells of black magic. I initially classified them as the believers. The accounts that follow are derived from their ideas.

Acquisition and Transmission of witchcraft

The popular account rather lacks the undisputed source from which no other source can replace or is available. The devil or demon is credited as the source of these acts which they call unnatural. These supernatural abilities were passed to the ancestors from whom to their children the abilities were inherited or apprenticed.

That it is not necessary that the recipient of the dark magic had to be an immediate offspring but may be transmitted to the filial generations of grandchildren. Especially the favourite ones were susceptible to acquire the unnatural ability either hereditarily or through apprenticeship.

Marriages also are categorized as sources of recruitment especially willing couples are initiated into the practice in varied ways in their matrimonial homes. A majority claim that the women become initiated into the practice when they are married in families that engage in witchcraft. A small group suggested that men are also recruited by their wives.

Causes of witchcraft

The Bible outlines that the aims of the devil are to kill, to steal and to destroy. Those who participate in witchcraft must not have legitimately or morally compelling reason to justify their actions but executing the directions of their master (devil) in order to meet objectives set; kill, steal and destroy.

Jealousy is a major trigger of black magic in Kisii community. Jealousy of success of neighbour’s coffee bushes, academic achievements, family’s or marital functionality, thriving livestock, employment status, professional competition among others. Vendetta among families or clans result to parties resorting to dark magic in order to cast spells or counter attack other spells.

Others causes are unprovoked but the inherent action more or reflex action by the witches to engage. It happens that the magic load might be in amounts though unquantifiable but quantified as more and disturbingly in need to be disposed of as excess. In these periods of feeling the need to dispose of the surplus that the reflex action is triggered and the witch casts spells gifted to that witch.  Notwithstanding the need to dispose of the surplus, the witch might be in need to cast a spell at any time anywhere.

Practice of Witchcraft among Kisii

In one of the interviews I was amazed by how organized witches in Kisii are. Think of an ordinary meeting at work place or chama; we have a chairperson, secretary, treasurer and members. Minutes are written and matters arise for the record etc.

In a riverine, ravine or a hill the witches meet and deliberate about… “Their next victim, ‘development agenda’ or whatever they deem is in furtherance of their interest”. Minutes are recorded and the secretary keeps them for the sake of reference and good filing.

At Tombe shopping center in Manga Sub-County in Kisii County a place described as a hotbed of arrogant witches, a book was found left beside a river among the riparian plantation whose content echoed the confidence, arrogance and recklessness of the secretary of the committee of witches operated.  The agenda of the undated meeting included activities assigned to members of the committee each assigned to bewitch a given group, cause sleepless nights of a given family, cast spells causing malady to a given family, issue final warning to some self-absorbed university student of Kisii university among other unclear contents.

At Keumbu, a confession was coerced (legality of the confession not in question) from some of the committee of witches about targeting a family (I am not at liberty of disclosing in spirit of confidentiality). In a desperate attempt to avoid the lynch mob the witches confessed ‘causing’ demise of a sokoro (grandfather) of the family who succumbed to wound inflicted by a twig on his way home from a local bar. They also confirmed that they were involved in the death of the sokoro’s son who was found dead at the corridor of the same bar and the mysterious demise of a toddler who within minutes of fever died. They described the mumbo-jumbos and abracadabra to the amazement and fury of the lynch mob.

At Nyamataro, the residents assembled a set old grannies suspected of practicing witchcraft and set ablaze while their condemners stood at the periphery with machetes, clubs and stones ready to strike if they tried to escape their forced fate.

Another incident involved witches who were involved in a heated exchange with each other, one being the leader of the ‘platoon’. They could be overheard saying;

“amatuko aya mwabeire aboro timori gokora amasoesi riri twagenda isiko nigo twamachia kobwatwa onye tari ‘Omare’yatokonyete”

Translated in paraphrased English the leader was reprimanding others that they were lazy of late owing to the fact that they were not showing up for nightrunning training exercises and were it not for ‘Omare’, they were running risk of being caught in the act. ‘Omare’ is the name given to the hyena the nightrunners use as a means of transport to the destinations they disturb tranquility.  It is believed that the hyenas used are special as they are airborne and can fly and run like a bullet train.

Specialialisation of Witches

Cannibals

The first category is that which involves corpse eating group of witches.  So far, I have not been able to find any other social side effects of these witches but for competition they offer to the scavengers and bacteria causing decay.

Cannibalism doesn’t make them witches but the means by which they procure the dead body. The body is not exhumed manually or by auto. It is believed that the hungry party strategically locate themselves, majorly at a lower area like a riverbank. There they recite their unholy chants while hitting a rod constantly…the corpse (should I call “it” so?) resurrects and heads to the slaughterhouse of the hungry witches, who feast on “it”.

Ebibiriria

These are those that have evil eyes.  They are capable of implanting virtually anything they so wish into the bodies of their victims.  They also cause discomfort to their victims characterized by aches and itches. If they are not treated by the abarwari in time the victim may succumb to aches and itches. There victims are usually children and women.

To children they transmit virtually through their evil eyes diseases and implant inanimate objects into the bodies of the children who if not treated, die. To women they bewitch their bodies mainly the breasts, feet (sole), and cause stretchmarks that itch. Ogosoya; the spell that results to the effects.

They are also believed to cause healthy crops to wither or stunt and cause shortage of produce from livestock when they look at them and “sigh” at their development.

Abarwari are a special healers of the consequences caused by the evil eyes of the Ebibiriria. The abarwari cannot heal any witch who seeks their services. Any witch falling a victim of their own evil cannot seek absolution from the healers but must seek the intervention of the witch responsible.

Omorogi

These are the nightrunners. Some are believed to be using hyenas (Omare) to transport them to their destinations. They are fond of disturbing peace in the night by knocking on the doors, while some bang them; they also throw objects on roofs and make the dogs bark all night long.  

Omanyamisira (Abanyamesira pl.)

They are the witch doctors. The witch doctors can be black magic hitmen or guardian angels; depends on what the clients want them to be. They may prevent, heal or reverse a spell.

They bind their spells by sacrificing animals. They then speak the enchantments and the name of the one who they want the spell to be bound on. Once the sacrifice is complete, the person who the spell is directed becomes ill and dies if not detected and treated in time.

Conclusion

Whenever we pray we trust that the Lord God will always deliver us from evil and send His angels to guide us every step of the way. It is right that every time we kneel to pray for ourselves we also petition the heavens for the intervention in the lives of these witches so that they may know the light.

Witchcraft is real. It is not a myth or misconceived idea of psychology otherwise, why did the parliament pass legislation on Witchcraft? I’ll tell you why, because even some of the legislators are beneficiaries of the black magic. Do not be deceived by the levels of civilization into believing that it is all a myth and science when we discuss witchcraft; in the same breath you will start questioning the existence of God. Apart from prayers for thankfulness, repentance, petition and intercession why else do we pray in our Lord’s Prayer: “…deliver us from evil…”?

Disclaimer*

This article wishes to state that the author resides in Kisii and appreciates the culture of the people therein. He has met many friends and foes in equal measures during his stay in Kisii. He loves their food, their entrepreneurial nature, their beautiful women, their arrogant and friendly men, their religious mothers and hands-on fathers. He has no reason whatsoever to demonize and discriminate against any Kisii.

This is just an article that looks at what is rumoured and believed. The sentiments shared herein are pure responses of those permanently residing, domiciled and having roots in Kisii and Nyamira counties.