Child Witches

Background

An increasing number of children in the Niger Delta are being forced to the streets and trafficked as a result of a deeply held belief in child “witches” and also due to persistent violent conflicts, poverty, abuse, torture, rape, or being orphaned by HIV/AIDS. The role of HIV/AIDS in the escalating street children crisis cannot be underestimated. The United Nations estimates that there are 930,000 HIV/AIDS orphans in Nigeria. The failure to address the increasing incidence of HIV/AIDS and the belief that it is spread by witchcraft is significantly amplifying the primary causes of the crisis. Care for Nigeria's street children remains one of the governments' major challenges, but little is being done by them to support these children.

Child Witchcraft: The Akwa Ibom Perception

©Robin Hammond

The deeply held belief by the people of Akwa Ibom State and the Efik speaking communities in Cross River State cuts across all tiers of society. Widely read and travelled academics and local villagers fear such children. This fear stems from the belief that a spiritual spell can be given to a person through food and drink. The soul of the person who eats this spell will then leave the body to be initiated in a gathering of witches and wizards. The initiated person will then have the power to wreak havoc, such as causing diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, hepatitis, typhoid, cancer. All accidents, drunkenness mental health problems, smoking of marijuana, divorce, infertility, and misfortunes are seen to be the handiwork of witches and wizards. In recent times it is believed that children have become the target for initiation by the elderly witches as they are more susceptible to their spells and are quicker in action.

Causes of the Problem

The following have being identified as the major causes of child witchcraft, abandonment and killing:

Religious profiteering
Extreme poverty
Disintegration of the extended family structure
Ignorance and superstitious beliefs
Broken marriages

The Role of the Church

Stepping Stones Nigeria does not wish to denounce any faith organisation. However the role of the church, especially some of the new Pentecostals, in spreading the belief in child witches cannot be underestimated. There are numerous so-called pastors in the region who are wrongly branding children as 'witches' mainly for economic self gain and personal recognition.

The Role of 'Home Movies'

Stepping Stones Nigeria's research has shown that the belief in child witchcraft in Akwa Ibom state is link to the widespread viewing of Nigerian or Nollywood 'home movies'. These movies are widely available in markets throughout the region and are watched by the vast majority of people in this region. Many of these films promote superstitious beliefs such as that of child witchcraft. By far the most provocative and influential film in this genre is 'End of the Wicked.

Please click here for an interesting article on the role of home movies

Please click here to view a clip of 'End of the Wicked'