(PART TWO) A DISCOURSE ON MYTHS AND BELIEFS FROM NIGERIA
This series on myths and beliefs from Nigeria is taking a look at certain supernatural manifestations that are a part of the myths and traditional beliefs of the Nigerian people. This is the second part in the series. You can read the first part here;
Part 1.
Suddenly she opened her eyes and grabbed my arm. She pointed to my mirror which stood on the floor of my room and told me to check behind it for a red cloth, comb and other items. She said I should bring it that her sisters are holding her and do not want her to stay on this world any longer. My friends looked at one another and shuffling on their feet, excuses bubbling from their lips, they fled my room. I was left alone with a drunk girl who was possibly an abiku.
I didn’t know what to do so, I just sat beside her as she moaned and called me to save her. I checked behind the mirror though and found nothing. That night I did not sleep fine, as I tried to keep my eyes open in case anything odd happened.
I woke up at night for no reason only to find her asleep with her two legs leaning on the wall and her back on the bed. This was an odd position to adopt and it is believed that only people with supernatural powers sleep in such a manner
The next morning, this young lady woke up fine and heartily greeted me. I looked at her suspiciously but she just smiled, picked my broom and started sweeping my room. It was surreal, I must say. I asked her what she meant by what she had done the night before but she claimed ignorance. According to her, the last thing she remembered was seating beside me after finishing the bottle of alcohol.
I became wary of her from that day henceforth and when we had fights later on, I always remembered that night and it made me worried. She always told me though even to this day that she can never harm me because I am her one true love.
Recently she had gone to the river Ethiope for a traditional cleansing ritual, to sever her ties with the spirit world but she still worries about it and she still goes to different churches seeking for deliverance from the demons that haunt her dreams.
Whether she had faked her behavior that fateful night, whether she had indeed been with spirits who sought to take her to the spirit world, whether it is a whole bunch of rubbish is left for you to decide. I am just sharing my experience.
The young adult novel series by JK Rowlings, Harry Potter, is popular the world over for its portrayal of a world hidden behind our own world, a world of witches and wizards, of magical creatures beyond the ken of man. This world made from the imagination of a writer might function as an interesting and entertaining read for most but not for all. JK Rowlings got accolades for how versatile her imagination was, how rich and detailed for her to create such a world which, it is believed does not exist.
In Nigeria however, witches are believed to be in existence. In fact, there are churches all over the country where people are being accused of witchcraft as well as people confessing to being witches and wizards. Unlike the friendly, wand wielding and broom hugging witches of Rowlings’ world, the witches in Nigeria are all evil. There are no good or white witches, there are just witches.
In Nigeria, anyone could be a witch or wizard but it strangely ironical that witches and wizards are found predominantly among a certain group of people. The most popular kind of persons considered to witches or wizards include;
Old women: the older a woman becomes, the more possible it is of people identifying her as a witch. In fact, if she is unlucky enough to survive any of her children, then the possibility increases.
Children: children between the ages of 5 to 11 years are very popular candidates for being accused of witchcraft. There have been cases of a parent accusing the child of witchcraft.
Poor: in most cases of suspected witchery, the witch in question is usually poor. The rich never seem to have the impediment of a witch in their family.
Witchcraft is a widely accepted part of the Nigerian culture. It is believed to be a pervasive cause of death, ill health, ill fortune. Children have been known to have accused their mothers of being witches, husbands have been known to accuse wives of being witches, wards have been accused of being witches by the people they live with, pastors have accused members of the church of being witches, little children, men and women have confessed of being witches and wizards. Basically seven in every ten Nigerians believes in the existence of witches.
Witches are supposedly beings with the supernatural power to leave their bodies, oppress other humans, inflict curses, sicknesses and ill fortune and kill.
Nigerian witches, as I have stated earlier, differ greatly from the western idea of witches. There are several beliefs about them which are uniquely African and Nigerian in particular. Some or all of these beliefs are accepted in one form or the other by Nigerians.These beliefs include;
Witches can fly through the sky. Unlike the western tradition that ascribes the use of the broomsticks to witches when in flight, Nigerian witches are believed to either fly seated inside groundnut shells, on top of plantain leaves or they change to the owl or a bat and fly away. They are also believed to be able to change to cats as well as rats.
They hold coven meetings at the top of the Indian almond tree as well as among plantain trees. This has resulted greatly in the reduction of the Indian almond fruit in areas where they used to be quite popular. This is aside from the fact that the tree tends to shed leaves every day.
They suck human blood and eat human flesh. The contribution of a new member’s loved one’s heart is supposedly an important part of the initiation process. This contribution is also believed to be an affair that will be repeated over time. Failure to deliver the heart of a loved one, it is believed, will lead to the death of the initiate.
It is also believed that witchcraft can be gotten through eating bewitched food. As a result, children are encouraged not to eat outside the family and there have been reports of witches who claimed that they were initiated by the house maid or their own parents or relatives who had given them food.
When a witch goes for coven meetings, he or she leaves the body behind and the body becomes a cold lifeless thing. It is believed that if the body is shifted in any manner, the witch will not be able to get back into his or her body and in that case, he or she will die.
Witches are not as powerful as beings from the sea, therefore the abiku is considered to be more powerful than the witch.
Witches come at night to oppress people in their dreams. It is believed that if you are chased by someone in a dream, a witch is after your life.
People who have faced witches before claimed that the feeling they had was that of lethargy, inability to breathe or speak as well as the inability to make body movements.
Witches are expected to be back in their bodies before daylight. If they are still out when the sun comes out the. they will be caught in whatever form that they flew with.
It is also believed that the local broom, if used to flog witches, will make them confess their atrocities.
Whether all these are true or not, is open for debate. But I will tell you my story of how I witnessed the phenomenon of witchcraft. Weirdly, this event occurred in broad day light.
I know, I know… I don’t like cliffhangers, no one does but you see the first post on this series became too lengthy. I think it had to do with the two poems I added to it. This time though, I have decided to shorten it , so bear with me. Tomorrow you will read the tale.
I would love to read your comments on this discourse. Your ideas, criticisms and opinionsis being highly anticipated.
FURTHER READING:
Head of Witches Department Reveals
Witchcraft in The 20th and 21st Centuries in Nigeria: An Analysis
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I heard this too growing up, but I don't believe it. Do you know how comfortable that position is? I had to stop though, my Mom was becoming paranoid 😁
I saw a video of an old woman (or was it a young man) caught on an electric pole. No one could reason how else she / he would have gotten there if she / he didn't perch whilst in a different form.
😂 I have never tried the position Sha. But the girl I mentioned in this post used to do it. Your mom got paranoid? Would have called a pastor for you too, if you had not stopped.
I know it's comfortable.i have actually tried it but superstition did not let me keep to it. 😂
Such videos make one wonder, right?
My to be continued comment is in form of question;
I hope you had no intimacy with her?
As a Nigerian... Every thing you said are true...
The spiritual climate of Africa especially Nigeria differs a lot to the western own
I have witnessed this LIVE in Broad daylight during my elementary school days...
Initiation into witchcraft through sweet and candy begging.
She and I remain friends until today. For a weird reason, not lack of attraction though, we have been unable to go beyond friendship. We lose contact for years then out of the blue, she would appear as if she left yesterday. So no I did nothing with her.
This I am yet to see but I will tell you mine and you will judge for yourself.
I love this story....
Thank you