Witchcraft in Africa – Myth, Reality, and Abuse: The Pan-African Response.

Webinar Report by Okpong Emmanuel, Programme Coordinator, Commission on Communication, Media and ICT, TPADI

The recently concluded webinar on “Witchcraft in Africa – Myth, Reality, and Abuse: The Pan-African Response” was a profound and intellectually stimulating discussion that shed light on one of Africa’s most contentious issues.

Organized by the Commission on Religion and Philosophy in Africa, one of the ten commissions under The Pan African Dialogue Institute (TPADI), the event convened religious scholars, human rights advocates, and academics from various parts of Africa and beyond.
Dr. Godwin Udoh, Secretary of the commission, anchored the event, introducing The Pan-African Dialogue Institute is an international think tank and network of African academics, professionals and civil society leaders in different fields of life, within Africa and the diaspora, who are motivated by the best principles of Pan-Africanism to serve the continent and its people worldwide. As a civil society think tank, members participate in policy formulation, policy analysis, and policy advocacy around social, economic, political, religious and cultural issues, as well as scientific, environmental, educational, legal, gender and business issues, within the Pan-African threshold. He also introduced the Commission on Religion and Philosophy in Africa as one of the ten commissions of the Institute whose mission is dedicated to dialogue, research and activities around religion and philosophy in Africa.

Among the key dignitaries present at the event were:
Dr. Effiong Joseph Udo (Nigeria) – International President, TPADI
Prof. Mutumbo Nkulu-N’Sengha (DR Congo/USA) – International Vice President, TPADI
Dr. Leo Igwe (Nigeria) – Advocacy for Alleged Witches, Resource Person
Dr. John Bwire (Kenya) – Director, Commission on Religion and Philosophy in Africa
Dr. Cosmas Sarbah (Ghana) – Deputy Director I, Commission on Religion and Philosophy in Africa
Dr. Dennis Igwe (Nigeria) – Deputy Director II, Commission on Religion and Philosophy in Africa
Sarah Jack (Colorado, U.S.) – Executive Director of End Witch Hunts and Co-host of Witch Hunt Podcast.
Prof. Mary Nyangweso (Kenya/USA) – Director, African Women and Gender Commission, TPADI
Abigail Ekangouo (Cameroon) – Commission on General Education, TPADI
Prudence Murisi (Zimbabwe) – Director, Commission on African Society – Business, Arts and Culture, TPADI
Prof. Jules Anciet – (Republic of Benin), among many other participants across the continent of Africa and beyond.

A Sobering Start to the Conversation
Dr. Leo Iwge set the tone for the webinar with a somber and empathetic introduction, citing real-life cases where children, elderly women, and vulnerable individuals had been brutally dehumanized, accused of witchcraft, and set ablaze or thrown into fire. He emphasized that abuses in witchcraft allegation in Africa focus on the accused rather than the accusers, calling for an activist-driven approach in addressing witchcraft-related violence in Africa.
He firmly stated that witchcraft is a long-standing myth and falsehood that has been used as a tool for persecution. He called for a true Pan-African response, one that utilizes Africa’s own resources to curb the menace and fosters a cultural approach that dismantles the false pretexts used to justify these accusations.

Key Insights from the Presentations
🔍 1. Witchcraft as a Myth and the African Response
Dr. Igwe concluded that witchcraft is a myth and called for collective action to reject the falsehoods that fuel violence in African communities. He emphasized that the response must be deeply rooted in African values and critical thinking to ensure that people do not continue to suffer under this dangerous belief system.
⚖ 2. Preservation of Life and the Miscarriage of Justice
Igwe strongly emphasized the need to preserve human life, highlighting how countless innocent people have been killed unjustly based on mere allegations of witchcraft. He described these killings as a miscarriage of justice and called for urgent reforms to prevent such tragedies.
🏛 3. A Philosophical and Empirical Perspective on Witchcraft
Dr. Dennis Igwe, a philosopher, addressed the deep nature of life, stating that understanding reality cannot be limited to empirical evidence alone. He acknowledged that while logic, science, and empiricism are important, they do not fully explain the complexities of human beliefs and experiences.
Prof. Mutumbo provided a historical perspective, arguing that witchcraft phenomenon and accusations are not exclusive to Africa. He pointed out that throughout history, many societies across the world have used witchcraft as a means to oppress the weak and marginalized. He stressed that the global community must work together to end the abuse of the vulnerable under the guise of witchcraft allegations.

A Call for a Research-Based and Value-Based Response
In his closing remarks, the International President of The Pan-African Dialogue Institute, Dr. Effiong Joseph Udo stressed that the Pan-African response to witchcraft persecution must be research-based and rooted in Pan-African values. He emphasized that continuous dialogue, critical thinking, and innovative solutions are needed to combat the menace of witchcraft accusations. He expressed gratitude to all attendees for their participation and encouraged further engagement on the issue.

What’s Next?
Dr. John Bwire, Director of the Commission on Religion and Philosophy in Africa, reaffirmed that witchcraft accusations are unjust and must be challenged at all levels. He announced that another webinar will be held on April 26th to further advance the conversation and explore actionable solutions.
The webinar saw participation from various countries across Africa and other continents, demonstrating a strong global interest in addressing witchcraft-related abuse.

Final Thoughts
This webinar was a significant step towards dismantling the dangerous myths surrounding witchcraft and advocating for the protection of the accused rather than persecuting them under false pretenses.

Join the Conversation!
Share your thoughts on the discussion! Use #TPADIWitchcraftWebinar to continue the conversation online.

For further inquiries, collaborations, or to participate in the next event, contact info@africadialogue.org or tpadi@uniuyo.edu.ng

Let’s continue working towards a just, informed, and Pan-African response to the reality of witchcraft and its abuses!