Hexing and cursing among the Azande is a complex and significant aspect of their traditional belief system and culture. The Azande people, who live primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and Central African Republic, have a deep belief in witchcraft and the supernatural forces that govern their lives. They believe that witchcraft is constantly present and that individuals can use it intentionally to harm others. The Azande often use hexing and cursing as a means of explaining misfortunes and tragedies that occur within their community. If someone falls ill, experiences a crop failure, or suffers from any other negative event, it is often attributed to the work of a witch or sorcerer. It is believed that these individuals can intentionally cause harm to others by casting spells or using charms and potions.
It is believed that these individuals can intentionally cause harm to others by casting spells or using charms and potions. To protect themselves from such attacks, the Azande often turn to their own witch doctors or diviners. These individuals have a deep understanding of the supernatural world and can identify witches within the community.
24 Most Iconic Movie Witches
Touted as the first great horror movie of the year, The Witch offers a visceral exploration of black arts and superstition in a bloody tale set within 17th century New England. The film inspires this 24 Frames gallery of the most iconic witches from movie history.
The Last Witch Hunter
Year: 2015
Vin Diesel plays an immortal warrior hunting down rogue witches who hide among us in everyday society. When the Queen Witch is resurrected, ol’ Vin is forced to do the last thing he wants: join forces with a young witch, played by Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones , Downton Abbey). The Harry Potter series
If you’re looking for witches, muggle, look no further than Hogwarts. Hermione Granger, along with pals Harry and Ron, attended the school and got mixed up in some world-threatning affairs. You may have heard about this. The Harry Potter series
Maggie Smith portrayed the shape-shifting Minerva McGonagall, also head of Gryffindor House at Hogwarts. The Harry Potter series
The Dark Lord’s most loyal servant, Bellatrix Lestrange was played with obvious sinister glee by Helena Bonham Carter. Oz the Great and Powerful
Year: 2013
Tomatometer: 59%
Rachel Weisz is one of three witches (the others being Mila Kunis and Michelle Williams) in this contemprary, CGI-heavy telling of the L. Frank Baum stories. The Wizard of Oz
Year: 1939
Tomatometer: 99%
The most famous witch from moviedom, the Wicked Witch of the West ruled and schemed from her castle and platoon of flying monkeys. Just don’t get her wet. Stardust
Year: 2007
Tomatometer: 76%
Michelle Pfeiffer fingering a spell in Matthew Vaughn’s light skewering of the fantasy film genre. The Witches
Year: 1990
Tomatometer: 100%
The ’90s generated a number of witchcrafted entertainment (probably ‘cuz the great satanic panic was on everybody’s minds) and director Nicolas Roeg got in on this action, directing Anjelica Huston as the Grand High Witch at a coven covention. The Craft
Year: 1996
Tomatometer: 50%
Robin Tunney, Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell, and Rachel True star as teenaged practitioners of the dark arts. Hocus Pocus
Year: 1993
Tomatometer: 30%
Three witches (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy) get resurrected into modern day Salem, a world of horseless carriages and where Halloween has turned into a joke holiday. The Witches of Eastwick
Year: 1987
Tomatometer: 73%
The Witches of Eastwick are comprised of Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeiffer, three repressed women who are manipulated to fall for the same devillish cad (Jack Nicholson). Practical Magic
Year: 1998
Tomatometer: 20%
Griffin Dunne’s early stab at directing resulted in this romantic comedy starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as women who live with a family curse. Bewitched
Year: 2005
Tomatometer: 25%
Kidman is a witchy woman once more in this meta-remake of TV show Bewitched. Kiki’s Delivery Service
Year: 1989
Tomatometer: 100%
Witches frequently figure in Hayao Miyazaki’s joints (Yubaba in Spirited Away), going so far as devoting his fifth film to the trials and tribulations of a witch-in-training. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Year: 1937
Tomatometer: 98%
Wait, never mind Miyazaki; witches have been a part of Walt Disney’s movies since the earliest days. It was, after all, this hag who whipped up the infamous poison apple in America’s first animated feature. Sleeping Beauty
Year: 1959
Tomatometer: 92%
Arguably the most famous Disney witch (certainly the most visually striking) is Maleficent, who spins Princess Aurora into the deepest slumber. The Sword in the Stone
Year: 1963
Tomatometer: 71%
The most fun Disney witch, Madam Mim, is wild, frenetic, and can shape shift on a whim. The Black Cauldron
Year: 1985
Tomatometer: 55%
Made during the Disney doldrums of the early ’80s, The Black Cauldron is a dark fantasy featuring Orddu, Orgoch, and Orwen, three evil ladies in the land of Prydain. Maleficent
Year: 2014
Tomatometer: 49%
Modern day Disney has had fun turning its classic stories on their heads, like casting Angelina Jolie as the antagonist witch from Sleeping Beauty and turning her into a hero. Into the Woods
Year: 2014
Tomatometer: 71%
This smorgasbord of fantasy tropes features Meryl Streep as a witch who offers to lift a married couple’s curse if they find some key items and engage in a variety of musical numbers. Black Sunday
Year: 1960
Tomatometer: 84%
The first movie from slick slasher Mario Bava starred Barbara Steele in two roles, mainly as a witch named Asa who get s burned at the stake and comes back 200 years later for revenge. I Married a Witch
Year: 1942
Tomatometer: 100%
French maestro Rene Clair put out a few Hollywood studio films, including I Married a Witch starring Veronica Lake as the title character. Macbeth
Year: 1971
Tomatometer: 86%
The three witches, aka the Weird Sisters, from the opening of Roman Polanski’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragic epic. Teen Witch
Year: 1989
Tomatometer: 33%
Before Sabrina was a thing on TV, there was the mega-’80s Teen Witch, starring Robin Lively as a girl who gains magical powers on her 16th birthday.
They play a crucial role in detecting and combating witchcraft and are consulted when someone believes they are under a curse. While witchcraft accusations and hexing may seem negative, they serve an important function within Azande society. They provide a means for individuals to explain and understand misfortunes in their lives and assign blame to a specific person or group. This can help maintain social order and prevent conflict within the community. It is important to note that while hexing and cursing are significant in Azande culture, they are not the sole focus of their belief system. The Azande also have a deep respect for ancestral spirits and other supernatural forces. These beliefs, including witchcraft, are deeply ingrained in their daily lives and influence various aspects of their society, from medicine to justice. In conclusion, hexing and cursing among the Azande are integral to their traditional belief system and culture. They provide a means for individuals to explain misfortunes and assign blame to witches or sorcerers. Witch doctors and diviners play a crucial role in identifying and combating witchcraft within the community. While these practices may seem negative, they serve an important function in maintaining social order and providing a framework for understanding supernatural phenomena..
Reviews for "Exploring Azande Hexing: A Journey into the Spirit World"
1. John - 2 out of 5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Hexing and cursing among the Azande." I found the writing style to be incredibly dry and difficult to follow. The author seemed more interested in showcasing their extensive research than making the information accessible to the reader. Additionally, I felt that the book lacked a clear focus and instead jumped around between different topics without providing a cohesive narrative. Overall, I was left feeling bored and frustrated by this book.
2. Sarah - 1 out of 5 stars - "Hexing and cursing among the Azande" was a complete waste of time for me. While I was initially intrigued by the subject matter, I found the author's analysis to be superficial and lacking in depth. The book failed to provide any meaningful insights into the Azande culture and their belief in witchcraft. Instead, it felt like a collection of random anecdotes and observations that didn't come together to form a coherent argument. I was left feeling confused and unsatisfied with the overall reading experience.
3. Alex - 2 out of 5 stars - I struggled to engage with "Hexing and cursing among the Azande." While the topic itself is fascinating, the book failed to keep my attention. The writing felt overly academic and inaccessible, making it difficult for me to connect with the material. Additionally, there was a lack of clear organization and structure, which further added to my confusion. I believe this book could benefit from a more reader-friendly approach and a stronger focus on storytelling to make it more engaging for a wider audience.
4. Emily - 2 out of 5 stars - I was hoping to learn more about the belief in hexing and cursing among the Azande, but this book fell short of my expectations. The author's writing style was dense and filled with jargon, making it difficult to grasp the concepts they were trying to convey. Furthermore, the book lacked a clear direction and seemed to meander between different points without drawing any concrete conclusions. Overall, I found "Hexing and cursing among the Azande" to be a disappointing and confusing read.