Witchcraft, an ongoing challenge December 1, 2010
People who are somehow "not part of the mainstream" risk being blamed when things that go wrong. If there is bad fortune then it is natural to want to find some reason, or some person, behind it. When life is particularly difficult, how many of us ask the question"What have I done to deserve this?" - and if it's not my fault then what is the cause, whose fault is it? If someone is already some kind of misfit or liability then they are more likely to be blamed.
Many societies struggle with problems about the "deserving poor" and the "undeserving poor". Here in the UK the coalition government is trying to reform our social security system. There are key questions that need to be addressed. What responsibility do we have towards people who are in need? What responsibility should I take for myself, my family, extended family, people in my local community, people beyond, and what should I contribute to the public purse?
People in rural Nigeria have the same issues, but there the problems of poverty are more acute, and there is no kind of state funded safety net. It is tempting to put uncontrollable misfortune down to the influence of malevolent spirits and witchcraft. What if the misfits are to blame for my misfortunes, and maybe the misfortunes of everybody? What if we can just get rid of them and get rid of all the bad luck at the same time? After all, if some old person or child is attacking people through witchcraft then why should anyone have to take responsibility for looking after them?
I have no idea how much this is what people think, but I know that witchcraft is blamed for problems in and around Fantsuam. I know that John has to fight against the idea and the practical outworking of that idea. I know that when Fantsuam Foundation suffered a run of misfortune - accidents, sickness, the Zittnet tower being toppled in a storm - people started to talk of witchcraft and John had to write a letter to staff and volunteers opposing that idea and firmly stating his view that it was not witchcraft. I know that John says that, behind it all, the local witchcraft problem is a problem of poverty, and I know that he is always responding to local needs and that includes helping to rescue "witches".
When I got the snippet below about witchcraft a couple of day ago, I was not sure if it was okay to share it, but I do have permission now, so I will start to share the story. (It was part of a longer email covering many topics).
John wrote
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We recvd alert abt a 9yr old boy at risk, he's bn accused of witchcraft n bn made to live in isolation.We'll attempt a rescue at 1st light 2moro, but hav no clue where to take him, yet