On the Renaissance of African Modes of Thought - The Example of the Belief in Magic and Witchcraft

Dirk Kohnert

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: The analysis of African occult belief systems provides a unique example for demonstrating that seemingly outdated and exotic African modes of thought, such as the belief in magic and witchcraft, are modern and have significant impact on social, economic and political structures. Official approaches, designed to cope with the problems of witchcraft violence in Africa, have since the advent of colonial rule, been based on eurocentric views and colonial jurisdiction, legitimised by Western social science. These answers are inadequate; in fact, they constitute part of the problem itself. African religions could provide a framework for valuable indigenous solutions to actual problems of contemporary life, including the problem of witchcraft violence. Besides this, they might, under certain conditions, provide the outside world with an inspiring new dimension of philosophic thought and emancipative action for example, within the realm of conflict resolution and reconciliation. However, even in the case of the ‘domestication’ of witchcraft violence, this holds only in so far as appropriate African answers can be shielded against the negative impact of globalised liberal capitalism.

Keywords: African Renaissance; occult belief; rationality; rational actor (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: N37 Z1 Z12 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2007-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-afr
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

Published in In: Schmidt, Burghart et al (eds.): „Witchcraft in Modern Africa: Witches, witch-hunts and magical imaginaries” Band 5, Verlag Dokumentation & Buch (DOBU), Hamburg, 2007: (2007): pp. 39-61

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pra:mprapa:7019

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