Zambia has just recorded its ‘first case’ of albino killing.
Suspected ritualists butchered a 37 year old albino woman in the
eastern district of Lundazi. They cut off her right hand and extracted
the teeth from her mouth. In Zambia, ritual murder is on the rise.
Mutilated bodies of persons suspected to have been killed by ritualists were found in many parts of the country. Some body parts - arms, tongues, genitals or skin - were missing. The bodies of a 19 year old boy and a 70 year old woman with missing organs were discovered in Lusaka and in the Western province. Some suspected victims of ritual murder in the Central province had their hands and legs chopped off. Ritual killing is a common practice across countries in sub Saharan Africa including Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Tanzania and Malawi. Why are Zambians – and many people across Africa still murdering people for rituals?
The belief in Zambia is that these body parts can be used to perform sacrifice which can fortify people spiritually or bring good luck and success. People harvest these body parts which are sold or sent to local medicine men who use them to perform rituals. The sale of body parts for ritual sacrifice accounts for the thriving market in Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, etc
Unfortunately many Zambians have not bothered to ask : Can ritual sacrifice really make one rich?
[,,,]
Zambians should begin to challenge claims associated with ritual killing and human sacrifice because if these underpinning misconceptions are not debunked, these vicious practices will not disappear. They will not stop. Definitely, it is not all Zambians that believe that money or success can be achieved through ritual sacrifice. There are skeptics and critical thinking people in Zambia. The issue is this: What are they doing? Why are they not speaking out? Why are their views and perspectives not captured in the discourse on ritual killing? What are they saying about the claim that ‘albino eyes, genitals and limbs can make somebody rich? Why are they not providing Zambia with skeptical fortification for people with albinism as against the supposed spiritual fortification which Zambia derive from ritual sacrifice of human body parts? Skeptics in Zambia may not want to speak out because they fear being attacked or persecuted. They fear being branded ‘atheists’ and stigmatized.
Mutilated bodies of persons suspected to have been killed by ritualists were found in many parts of the country. Some body parts - arms, tongues, genitals or skin - were missing. The bodies of a 19 year old boy and a 70 year old woman with missing organs were discovered in Lusaka and in the Western province. Some suspected victims of ritual murder in the Central province had their hands and legs chopped off. Ritual killing is a common practice across countries in sub Saharan Africa including Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Tanzania and Malawi. Why are Zambians – and many people across Africa still murdering people for rituals?
The belief in Zambia is that these body parts can be used to perform sacrifice which can fortify people spiritually or bring good luck and success. People harvest these body parts which are sold or sent to local medicine men who use them to perform rituals. The sale of body parts for ritual sacrifice accounts for the thriving market in Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, etc
Unfortunately many Zambians have not bothered to ask : Can ritual sacrifice really make one rich?
[,,,]
Zambians should begin to challenge claims associated with ritual killing and human sacrifice because if these underpinning misconceptions are not debunked, these vicious practices will not disappear. They will not stop. Definitely, it is not all Zambians that believe that money or success can be achieved through ritual sacrifice. There are skeptics and critical thinking people in Zambia. The issue is this: What are they doing? Why are they not speaking out? Why are their views and perspectives not captured in the discourse on ritual killing? What are they saying about the claim that ‘albino eyes, genitals and limbs can make somebody rich? Why are they not providing Zambia with skeptical fortification for people with albinism as against the supposed spiritual fortification which Zambia derive from ritual sacrifice of human body parts? Skeptics in Zambia may not want to speak out because they fear being attacked or persecuted. They fear being branded ‘atheists’ and stigmatized.
Ritual Killing and Skepticism in Zambia
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