Witchcraft and Justice: The Case of Cameroon

By George Esunge Fominyen (originally posted on GEF's Outlook)

In December 2008, the  American newspaper Star Tribune reported that a woman of Cameroon origin  had filed a lawsuit in a US Federal Court accusing another woman for using voodoo to steal her man and ruin her life. By February the woman had withdrawn the case citing the power of prayer as the final sword in her battle to regain "her man". This affair drew a mix of contempt, ridicule and sympathy for her, as it seemed  absurd that one would dare to file such a case in a court of law.

 If this woman had been well advised she would have simply taken the case to the land of her forefathers. Article 251 of the Cameroon penal code  provides that anyone found guilty of practising sorcery could be punished with imprisonment for up to 10 years and fined 100,000 FCFA ($200). All she needed to do would have been to prove her allegations. Well, that's where things become awkward. How do you prove the existence of what is essentially supernatural? 

This has been the focus of many a discussion in Cameroon. Back in March 2005, the Catholic University of Central Africa in Yaounde, Cameroon organised an international conference on witchcraft and social justice. Eminent researchers, jurists, traditional healers, priests and students reflected on whether witchcraft and sorcery actually existed and if punishment for it should still feature in the legal system of a "modern" state. The event seemed so hair-raising that it featured as top story on the national radio (CRTV) news and on News Focus (I was presenting at the time). Below is an edited version of the newscast with a report of the event by Kihkishiy Lawrence and an analysis by Mbah Peter Nforsi.

CRTVnewsfocus 17march2005 - Gef

 Does a crime like witchcraft exist? Is it reasonable to maintain such an article in the penal code?  How many court cases related to witchcraft  are tabled to judges in Cameroon. What is the mumber of persons in prison convicted (or even accused) of wizardry and bewitching others?  What if a leading media organisation in Cameroon investigated this issue? They could even base their work on the piece by Sorious Samura on Justice and Witchcraft in the Central African Republic.

A fundamental concern would be whether law is based on the circumstances of a given society or on universal precepts of modernity. It may also be interesting to know where state law stands on issues of belief systems?  Is there a right or a wrong belief in the eyes of the courts? Is it OK to believe that a man named Moses led Israelites (walking) across the red sea that was split into two and not alright to think that a man is held by a spell cast on him by a woman? What do Cameroonians really think about this matter?

Senegal-based Cameroonian blogger George Fominyen blogs at http://www.gefominyen.com/

Comments

[UnitedstatesofAfrica]

If people believe in a God they have never seen, a Bible they don't know wrote and stories about a snake tempting a woman into eating an apple, why shouldn't people be allowed to believe in Witchcraft. Christianity and religion in general in a way is like stylized witchcraft. Christians believe in miracles, ordinary tap water turning into holy water etc etc. People however tolerate christianity because it was being propagated by the whiteman. When a blackman does his own thing, people complain.

[Abinachi]

As for the case of this woman who took the case to court, She devoce this man. So when she found that the man was with another woman she took the case to court for Voodo beein used on her husban.
The problem here is she could not show prove of any Vodd beeing used on her husband knowing fully well that the case will be rown out of court she withdrew the case saying it is vbecause of prayers.
For me Thsi woman has a mental problem and should be taken to the Hospital.

[Fed]

Sunday, May 3, 2009
Watch out for the Penis Snatcher!
… cause sans pénis is a sad way to be.

In addition to the witchcraft I’ve previously mentioned in Makala, I’ve just learned that penis snatching has become all the rage these days. Somehow, (as usual though) I’m the last one to have caught on to this trend. PCVs from all over the North of the country have been hearing about missing peni for months now! Nobody knows for sure where it started, but I’ve heard both Nigeria and Chad. (Always blame the foreigners. At least the Etats-Unis is staying out of this one.)

In one nearby village a fellow volunteer, while walking down the street, has been taken aside by villagers who warn him earnestly, “Mr. Adam, be careful who you shake hands with, they might try to steal your penis!” For now, Adam remains with penis intact. Somehow, it’s through the handshake that the thief makes the snatch. Since Cameroonians shake hands as the standard greeting for anyone and everyone, this is pretty troublesome.

A doctor from another village in the Extreme North explained to me that when the “penis-less” come in to be examined, the member in question is, in fact, fully intact, but somehow, as though through some type of psychological blockage, the guy just doesn’t believe his penis is there anymore. So the doctor signs an attestation that junior is still down there, and sends the poor guy on his way. It seems moreso that what gets stolen is “the essence of the penis.”

In one PCV’s village, a supposed thief was nearly lynched for penis-abducting crimes, and another was severely beaten. In yet another town, the case was taken all the way to court. The plaintiff was asked to prove his penis-less-ness. Again, the member in question was fully intact. But somehow the accused guy was still found guilty! The plaintiff had claimed that his penis no longer worked, that he couldn’t make love to women. So the thief did a short stint in jail.

In still a third town, one of my friends who is a teacher was warned about these incidents. Since she’s a woman, though, she was told she didn’t have to worry, no one steals the vagina, as they “don’t keep well.” We pondered on this… “Spoils easily when removed from original container…??” At least I’m safe for now.

Finally in another town just up the road from me, it’s gone to yet another extreme. The penis is associated with a man’s wealth. So, as urine passes through the penis, so does wealth. Therefore, guys are scared of peeing onto the ground as is usually done, cause all his wealth and urine will seep over into Nigeria, and he’ll end up poor! (Do the Nigerians even know they’re getting rich off of this?) Sooooo, guys instead pee into plastic bottles these days, and keep the bottles who knows where. I haven’t seen any bottles floating around my neighborhood yet, but, I’m not drinking any lemonade any time soon.

Til next time, friends, keep those magical organs safe!

http://katewithdreadlocks.blogspot.com/2009/05/watch-out-for-penis-snatcher.html