Western Scholars Have Traditionally Used the Term Witchcraft to Describe
Catholic Historical Review Vol. Among most social science scholars of Africa particularly anthropologists witchcraft is defined as an act of magic that results in harming a person or aspects of the material world on which he or she depends. 2 Historically it is often associated with indigenous and tribal societies and involves belief that shamans with a connection to the otherworld have the power to heal the sick communicate with spirits and escort souls of the dead to the afterlife. . In contemporary scholarly and popular discourse the term witchcraft refers to a wide variety of ideas practices and institutions. Women are often more likely to become possessed than men. Spirit possession is always viewed as an act of the devil. Pxi In his ground breaking book African Religions and Philosophy Mbiti says These earlier descriptions and studies of African religions left with terms which are inadequate derogatory and prejudicia...