I've seen this documentary and it is shocking watching the little boy age 3 wandering around his village asking for food and water only to be ignored by the locals. They branded him a witch. She took him to her home and raised him.
What made him a witch? He's just a child I don't think he knows any witchy anything.
I heard sometimes in African countries albino people are considered witches but this child doesn't look albino or have strong distinctively different features.
Edit: got corrected a few times. Albino people are not considered witches. Their bodies are considered ingredients for witch's brew. I'm not sure what's worse.
Witchcraft accusations are often directed towards persons who are related, such as neighbours, extended family members, even own children or parents. In some communities, twins (sometimes called ‘badly born babies’) are believed to have bad spirits that will bring misfortune upon their communities. Therefore, in several communities, twin babies (sometimes only one of them) are killed to avoid bad luck for their families. In other communities, the powers attributed to twins are regarded more ambiguously, as twins can see through hidden things and are respected and feared, being close to gods. Persons with visible physical disabilities (such as kyphosis) or severe mental disabilities are also potential targets. Elderly women may also be accused of witchcraft, for example in the case of the death of a child in the local community, miscarriage of a pregnant woman, ‘eccentric’ behaviour, outliving a deceased husband.
Punishment may involve severe beating, burning or stoning, naked parading, being compelled to drink lethal ‘medicines’, lynch mob. Children accused of witchcraft may face infanticide, abandonment, physical and sexual violence, stigmatisation. They may be denied schooling and risk being exposed to drugs and prostitution. They may also have to do illegal work or beg.
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In relation toindividuals accused of witchcraft\, available information indicates that in the specific local context, persecution may be for reasons of religion and/or membership of a particular social group. Relevant particular social groups could be defined, for example, with regard to their innate characteristics (e.g. twins, persons with visible physical or mental disabilities); and the distinct identity of these groups in Nigeria, because they are perceived as being different by the surrounding society.**
Yes, that's why we mustn't allow lunatics to turn back time. The values of enlightenment, humanism and a secular society are worth defending.These kind of "witch hunters" are dangerous: https://youtu.be/WOYpKcSDWYk?si=tWCt3n4BQEDCCsT9
More like “Goody Martin requires aid that strains our resources, which is building up resentment in our community, and here’s a book about how to spot a witch, oh, looks like we got one! Get her!”
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u/Delicious-Cut-7911 5d ago
I've seen this documentary and it is shocking watching the little boy age 3 wandering around his village asking for food and water only to be ignored by the locals. They branded him a witch. She took him to her home and raised him.