11.03.2008
Quick Note: Witch Doctors for Obama
For Democrats worried that all those positive polls are wrong, Kenyan witch doctor John Radima is here to reassure you.
John Radima points towards the pro-Obama casting.
"A witch doctor in Kogelo, western Kenya, where Obama's father grew up, on Saturday also predicted victory for the Democrat. John Radima, who lives not far from the home of Obama's grandmother in Kogelo, threw stones, bones and shells on the ground and "read" them. The message was that Obama will be the winner in the November 4 election."
The spirits may have spoken, but don't let that stop you from making your own voice heard this Tuesday. Also, when watching the results roll in tomorrow, take the advice of Democratic and Republican pundits, and ignore the exit polls (and don't forget to participate in The Witches' Voice Presidential Poll).
Labels: Africa, Barack Obama, indigenous, Kenya, Paganism, politics, Presidential election, The Witches Voice, witch doctor
10.12.2008
Alive and Well in Kiambu
Amid the media frenzy over all things Sarah Palin, with a seemingly new scandal or story popping up every other day, it is little wonder that not a lot of background journalism has taken place. While assorted reporters and pundits were happy to play the video of Palin being blessed by African Pentecostal leader Thomas Muthee, few have been able to dig into his claims of driving out "witches" from the town of Kiambu in Kenya.
"According to the Christian Science Monitor, six months of fervent prayer and research identified the source of the witchcraft as a local woman called Mama Jane, who ran a “divination” centre called the Emmanuel Clinic ... after Pastor Muthee declared Mama Jane a witch, the townspeople became suspicious and began to turn on her, demanding that she be stoned. Public outrage eventually led the police to raid her home, where they fired gunshots, killing a pet python which they believed to be a demon. After Mama Jane was questioned by police – and released – she decided it was time to leave town, the account says."
Since then, many have wondered, what happened to Mama Jane? Was she really driven out? Was she killed by a mob, as so many other accused "witches" have been in Kenya? Luckily Zoe Alsop, who happened to be working as a journalist in Kenya, found Mama Jane alive and well and living in Kiambu.
"...some residents of Kiambu were somewhat skeptical of Muthee's claims. Not least among them is the herbalist Jane W. Njenga, a pastor with the African Mission of Holy Ghost Church, who is best known as Mama Jane. She says she didn't own a pet python and she's never left her compound, located about a half-mile from Muthee's immense new church. Last week Women's eNews interviewed her there, next door to the Superkid Solid Foundation Faith in Every Footstep daycare center just off Kiambu's main street. 'If I am bad, why haven't people attacked me?' Njenga says. 'Why haven't they burnt this building down? That is what people here do to witches.'"
In fact, just about every claim made in Muthee's witchcraft adventure has turned out to be false. The decrease in traffic deaths? New paving and speed bumps. Police killed a demon-snake? Mama Jane never owned one. Though one thing is true, Muthee did try to label her as a witch and have her killed or driven out.
"When Muthee came, he took a loudspeaker into the street and he told people to pray for seven days that I would die," Njenga says. "If I was not known in the town, I could not have survived even to put my children through school."
One wonders if Muthee's tale of victory over witchcraft was invented to impress his Western backers. No doubt his church gets plenty of fat donations from fellow "spiritual warriors" impressed by his bravado and willingness to engage in campaigns of demonization and incitement that would be illegal here in America. As one community health worker tells Alsop, the best way to get rich quick in Kenya is to build a church, and Muthee is nothing if not rich. Instead of the mighty witchcraft fighter, come to America to lay his blessings on the faithful, he has been exposed as a Christian con-man making a quick buck.
Labels: Africa, Christianity, Kenya, Kiambu, Mama Jane, Sarah Palin, Third Wave, Thomas Muthee, Witchcraft
9.18.2008
Update: Palin's Anti-Pagan Coreligionists
Since I first posted about Republican VP nominee Sarah Palin's troubling co-religionists, the mainstream press and several major blogs have homed in on the blessing Palin received from the African Bishop Thomas Muthee.
"Palin describes the visit of Pastor Thomas Muthee to the Wasilla Assembly of God in 2005. "As I was mayor and Pastor Muthee was here and he was praying over me, and you know how he speaks and he's so bold. And he was praying 'Lord make a way, Lord make a way,'" Palin remarked. “And I'm thinking, this guy’s really bold, he doesn't even know what I'm going to do, he doesn’t know what my plans are," she continued. "And he’s praying not 'oh Lord if it be your will may she become governor,' no, he just prayed for it. He said, 'Lord make a way and let her do this next step. And that’s exactly what happened.'" “So, again, very very powerful, coming from this church,” she added."
Muthee is feted by fellow Christians in America and in Africa for driving out the "spirit of witchcraft" that resided in the village of Kiambu, Kenya. Now it seems this wasn't purely spiritual warfare on the part of Muthee, but involved stirring up mobs and driving a local fortune-teller out of town.
"According to the Christian Science Monitor, six months of fervent prayer and research identified the source of the witchcraft as a local woman called Mama Jane, who ran a “divination” centre called the Emmanuel Clinic ... after Pastor Muthee declared Mama Jane a witch, the townspeople became suspicious and began to turn on her, demanding that she be stoned. Public outrage eventually led the police to raid her home, where they fired gunshots, killing a pet python which they believed to be a demon. After Mama Jane was questioned by police – and released – she decided it was time to leave town, the account says."
As I pointed out previously, this isn't some isolated third-world preacher, Muthee has toured America, received mainstream press coverage, and gave 10 consecutive sermons at Wasilla Assembly of God (Palin's former church). He is a strong proponent of the spiritual warfare tactics endorsed by "Third Wave" Christian churches. Knowing that she was willingly blessed by an anti-witch fanatic, someone who has helped stir up the kind of mobs responsible for the horrific deaths of innocent men and women in Kenya, makes me reiterate my previous closing statement on this matter.
"What Pagans need to know, especially those who are considering voting Republican, is if Palin condemns or rejects the spiritual warfare teachings of the Third Wave movement. A movement that essentially espouses malicious Christian magic. Pagans have seen first hand that the religious opinions of Presidents have been used in the past by government agencies to deny us our legal rights. What would happen if our vice president thought we should be supernaturally eradicated?"
Does Palin still credit Muthee (via the power of "Jesus") with "making a way" to power for her? Does she know and approve of Muthee's spiritual war against "witches"? I think it would be important to know these things before election day.
Labels: Africa, Alaska, Christianity, Presidential election, Republican Party, Sarah Palin, Third Wave, Thomas Muthee, Witch Killings, Witchcraft
9.10.2008
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
Politics! Litigation! Evangelism! Looks like we need to take a break and explore that heady intersection of fashion and the occult. British lingerie brand Agent Provocateur has unleased its newest collection: "Season of the Witch" (just in time for the Samhain season).
"The "Season of the Witch" ad shows a flame-haired high priestess presiding over a disrobed virgin in a sacrificial ceremonial scene. Her raven-haired witches crowd around while semi-disrobed soldiers lie helplessly at their feet."
The photo shoots seem to nod towards a Hellfire Club/Secret Society sort of diabolic decadence. The roll-out of the new collection has gained a remarkable amount of press due to the inclusion of Bob "Live Aid" Geldof's daughter Peaches. You can explore the (Not Safe For Work) collection at the Agent Provocateur web site.
BBC News profiles the life of Susanne Wenger, a 94-year-old Austrian artist who became a convert to the Yoruba faith. Arriving in Nigeria in 1950, Wenger went on to help preserve the Osun sacred grove in Osogbo town, and fight attempts by Muslim and Christian missionaries to wipe out Nigeria's pre-Christian religion.
"When she arrived here, she found traditional culture in abeyance, all but destroyed by missionaries who branded it "black magic" or "juju", a word Mrs Wenger reviles. Friends paint a picture of a dedicated, tough and far-sighted leader who has helped revive a culture thought destroyed by Christian and Muslim evangelists, and secured protection for one of the Yoruba tradition's most sacred sites. But she is very humble about her achievements. "Osogbo is a creative place, it is that by itself, it didn't need me," she says."
Locals hold her in high regard, and believe the goddess Oshun has channeled into her body, granting her wisdom and knowledge of their ways far beyond that of any other European. This is an inspiring story, be sure to read the whole thing and check out the video of an Oshun offering. Thanks to Dave Haxton for pointing it out.
The South African Pagan Council shares an official media statement by South Africa's (re-re-established) National Party regarding Paganism. This comes in the wake of the party promising to "suppress" Satanism and witchcraft should they come into power.
"We would like to state it unequivocally that the National Party does not hold any ill feeling against the pagan community. On the contrary, the National Party would endeavour upon election to protect the rights of the Pagan community. We understand the response from the Pagan community regarding our policy towards Satanism. It is well known that paganism has wrongly, and to the great detriment of the Pagans, been associated with Satanism by ill-informed officials. However, the National Party wishes to advise that we fully support freedom of religion and that there would be no witch-hunt of any practitioners of Wicca, Odinic Rite or any of the other Pagan practices."
SAPC representative Luke Martin greeted the NP's statement warmly, though forcefully reiterated that the South African constitution guarantees religious freedom for all, even Satanists, or other faiths they may find distasteful. This is another example of how South African Pagans have gotten active in local politics in order to protect their rights and freedoms.
BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell shares the news that Pagan-folk band Omnia member Joe Hennon is assistant to EU official Margot Wallstrom, Vice President of the European Commission in charge of Institutional Relations and Communication.
"I am of course ever on the alert for any signs of witches and warlocks haunting the corridors of power. So what do you make of the fact that Commissioner Margot Walstrom's spokesperson is a leading exponent of Pagan Rock?"
Mardell confides that the post was made so he could link to Omnia's latest promotional video, and we should hope so, because Hennon's job in politics was extensively reported on nearly a year ago by Expatica.
In a final note, French composer and record producer Hector Zazou passed away on Monday at the age of 60.
"Algerian-born French composer/producer Hector Zazou had a surprise waiting with each new record: twisted rock, neo-classical compositions, world music (from Africa to Central Asia), string quartets, pieces for wind instruments, voices or synthesizers, he's been using a wide variety of genres to create the most unexpected and subtle blends..."
His ambient and neo-classical works found a wide assortment of willing collaborators, from Siouxsie Sioux and Bjork to indigenous shamans. Zazou's most famous release in America is probably 1992's "Sahara Blue", a tribute to Arthur Rimbaud that featured the talents of Dead Can Dance, David Sylvian, and Gérard Depardieu. His creative vision will certainly be missed.
That is all I have for now. Have a great day!
Labels: Africa, Agent Provocateur, EU, fashion, Hector Zazou, music, Nigeria, occult, Omnia, Pagan News of Note, Paganism, Passings, SAPRA, South Africa, Susanne Wenger, Witch, Witchcraft, Yoruba
3.22.2008
In Defense of African Spirituality
Kofi Akosah-Sarpong, writing for Modern Ghana, explores recent comments made by Major Courage Quashigah, Ghana's Minister of Health, that urged Christian clergy to stop stripping Ghanaians of their cultural heritage. Akosah-Sarpong decries the suppression of traditional African religion, and supports Quashigah's call for Christian clergy to emphasize the love of Jesus instead of demonizing traditional spirituality.
"Nowhere in the world is ones traditional spirituality either bastardized or demeaned or kicked around badly as if it has no innate traditional spiritual soul so much than the African's. The African spirituality, which is non-violent and with no problems of fundamentalism compared to other worldly religions, is so demeaned that even in the eyes of a good number of Africans they see it as "heathen," "pagan," "evil," "fetish," or "primitive." And this has impacted negatively on Africa's progress in all sort of developmental ways to the extent that its elites, who are supposed to know better, are dazed."
Part of the problem, according to Akosah-Sarpong, isn't simply Christian (or Muslim) hostility, or post-colonial reverberations (though he certainly acknowledges those elements), but the failure of African religions to modernize and combat associations with malicious occultism. He endorses the advocacy group Afrikania Mission as a way forward for traditional spiritualities in Africa.
"Afrikania is a concept of life and more importantly, a spiritual revolution that aims at creating a new world order based on Amen-ra, positive consciencism and spiritual equilibrium. It is called Afrikania because it is rooted in the Afrikan experience. Its foundation and its goal is the creator. It is the restructuring of the Afrikan traditional concept which is the first recorded religion of mankind and the mother of all religions. This Afrikan environment is the father of science, the cradle of civilization and the place where man first saw light. The Afrikan heritage is a gift for the whole world, after all the races of the world spring from the afrikan race, which began in east Afrika. The experience gained over the years, taught mankind the virtues of love, faith, prudence, justice, courage, temperance, honesty, good citizenship and above all; nation building as a spiritual duty. This is the Afrikan concept. It is neither fetish, pagan, idolatrous animism, ancestor worship, or superstition, but an honest approach to Amen-ra and we are proud to improve upon it for the benefit of Afrika and all mankind."
In the end both Kofi Akosah-Sarpong and Major Courage Quashigah agree that "no country in this world can develop outside its culture," and that indigenous religion is an integral part of that culture. Attempts by the dominant monotheisms (both internally and externally) to demonize and eliminate these traditional spiritual paths may in turn hinder the growth of African nations wanting to emerge from poverty and social problem.
Whether clergy in Ghana listen to Quashigah's pleas for a change in attitude remains to be seen. According to press accounts his exhortations were met with "shrugs of uneasiness", which doesn't seem to be a good omen for future cooperation and tolerance.
Labels: Africa, Ghana, indigenous, Religion
1.22.2008
Yoruba Sacred Texts
In a recent post I mentioned that two copies of a rare book about the Yoruba religion were donated to Florida International University.
"The text, The Book of Diagnosis in Ifa Divination, was drawn from the religion's oral tradition and first published in the 1940s. The original text and its copies were kept from the public until the present day ... The text is a compilation of Yoruba and Afro-Cuban history, culture and philosophy. It was written in Yoruba and Spanish."
Now a follow-up article about the donation, from student paper The Beacon, goes into greater depth about the history and importance of this text.
"After years of criticism for not having a written religious canon, leaders of the Yoruba religion have decided to reveal two original texts that were kept for decades in the hands of privileged priests. The texts were showcased at a meeting for the inauguration of Africana Knowledge Working Group of South Florida held at Biscayne Bay Campus on Jan. 18. This event marked the first time any sacred text of Santeria, the syncretic Yoruba religion, has ever been exposed to the public. The Book of Diagnosis in Ifa Divination was written in 1940 by a group of priests and recopied by the same authors within the next ten years."
For anyone interested in minority faiths, this is a major development. I only wish this had been covered by a major new outlet who had the time and money to really dig into this story. For instance, what is the general consensus of this text among different manifestations of Yoruba-derived religion? Was there any controversy in making this text known? Do Santeria practitioners feel differently about the book than Vodou priests in America? Is it truly a "sacred" text in the same manner as the Bible? There are so many questions that have yet to be explored here, but I'm almost certain of one group's reaction, academics and scholars are no doubt excited about these texts. In a couple years we will most likely see papers that explore this new find, and perhaps they will answer the questions that the journalists didn't get around to.
Speaking of Yoruba and Santeria, babalawo Antonio Castaneda, the first priest of the Santeria religion to be elected to Cuba's parliament, predicted the continued rule of Fidel Castro despite concerns about his health after a recent surgery.
"'Olodumare says he is the one that should be there and so he is untouchable,' said Antonio Castaneda, a babalawo (priest) in the religion slaves brought to colonial Cuba from Nigeria. Hurricanes may batter Cuba this year, but Castro's health will not break, according to the orishas (deities), he said ... Santeria followers have believed their gods were on Fidel Castro's side ever since a white dove landed on his shoulder during a victory speech in Havana after his 1959 revolution."
Of course Castaneda belongs to the Yoruba Cultural Association of Cuba, an organization friendly to the Cuban government, so he might be seeing what he wants to see, instead of what will be. Only time will tell for sure (you can always look at the Ifa predictions for 2008, and make your own judgments).
Labels: Africa, Cuba, Florida International University, predictions, Santeria, Vodou, Yoruba
9.05.2007
The Eradication of Polytheist Culture in Nigeria
The Associated Press reports on the saddening destruction of pre-Christian art, culture, and beliefs in Nigeria as a fanatical form of Pentecostal Christianity continues to spread through the poverty-stricken country.
"Born to a family of traditional priests, Ibe Nwigwe converted to Christianity as a boy. Under the sway of born-again fervor as a man, he gathered the paraphernalia of ancestral worship - a centuries-old stool, a metal staff with a wooden handle and the carved figure of a god - and burned them as his pastor watched ... Generations ago, European colonists and Christian missionaries looted Africa's ancient treasures. Now, Pentecostal Christian evangelists - most of them Africans - are helping wipe out remaining traces of how Africans once worked, played and prayed."
These Christian evangelists, many converted by a Pentecostal surge in the 1980s, have no tolerance for anything from their "pagan" pasts and believe destroying tribal artifacts helps breaks the "curse" of poverty. This rampant destruction has gotten so bad that tribal villages are building special houses to keep ancient pre-Christian artifacts away from Christian vandals, and the Nigerian government has launched an education campaign to stem the tide of cultural eradication.
"The National Commission for Museums and Monuments, which is responsible for protecting the country's cultural antiquities, has responded with a sensitization campaign. "We are ... telling the Christians that they can't detach themselves from their past, that there is a beginning to their history," said Omotosho Eluyemi, a senior commission official. The commission urges those who do not want to keep sacred objects to take them to local chiefs. It also seeks stricter enforcement of the law prohibiting export of artifacts."
But many fear that is some areas of Nigeria it is too late to stem this tide, according to one Nigerian teacher: "there is hardly anyone around these days to speak up for tradition". In a land where sectarian violence, a growing population of HIV-infected adults, and human rights violations are day to day problems, I somehow doubt that much can be done to halt the spread of this travesty.
Labels: Africa, Christianity, Nigeria, Polytheism
2.07.2007
The Endurance of African Polytheism
Spiegel International has issued a report on the religious landscape in Africa. Thilo Thielke looks at how polytheistic (or "animistic" if you prefer) religion survives in Sub-Saharan Africa despite increasing pressure from Christian and Islamic groups vying for religious dominance of the region.
"The clash of civilizations and religions, the focus of so much debate in Europe and America, can be witnessed firsthand here in Africa. And today Maryal Bai is one of its many fronts. Islamic Fundamentalism is advancing from the west, penetrating all the way to the continent's eastern reaches. In some regions it collides head-on with an equally aggressive brand of Christianity. The clashes are becoming increasingly bitter because the desert is expanding, bringing more poverty in its wake...Yet, as hard as the two great monotheistic faiths have struggled for supremacy, they have failed to wrest power from priests like Akoon Duong. With its nature deities, the old African mythology is often the only stabilizing force in a world full of suffering, displacement and death, where everything is in constant flux but rarely changes for the better, where - in many respects - time has stood still."
Thielke points out that while many Africans claim to adhere to Christianity or Islam, the older religious traditions still hold sway over their lives.
"In truth, religious distinctions have long blurred, indeed evaporated, in Africa. Someone who attends church in the morning and the mosque at midday might easily invite a voodoo priest over in the evening to read the kola nuts...In Kenya, for example, the modernminded Kikuyu, flashing cell phones and Ray-Bans, happily journey to Mount Kenya and pray to Ngai, the supreme God of the animists - despite often being members of one of the numerous Christian sects, such as the Pentecostals or the gospel churches."
The article also interviews voodoo priest Chief John Odeh (Nigeria) about his views on the religious conflicts and intermingling happening today in Africa.
"Christianity has destroyed our culture. The people have lost faith in our ancient gods and values. The pastors go to church in the morning and preach Christianity, and in the evening they come to me and speak with their forefathers. Christianity cannot compete with our ancestors. Your God is impotent against Shango, the god of thunder and lightning. That's why the Christian pastors in Nigeria all die so young. Oh well, that's how things are nowadays. Nothing's free in life except death."
It seems that despite the best efforts from the major monotheisms, traditional African religion isn't going gently into that good night. During the colonial era, progress was an all or nothing proposition. Technological and medical advances had to come with the adoption of our religion as well. While some Western missionary groups now endeavor to be more sensitive to cultural traditions, in many ways their goals are the same. Eliminate traditional religion and replace it with the "one true" God. With all the current problems in Africa, a religious conversion experience doesn't seem like it should be high on the list of priorities.
Labels: Africa, Animism, Christianity, Islam, Paganism, Polytheism
