Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there existed a place called Magical Days. It was a hidden realm full of wonder and enchantment. In this mystical land, every day was a magical adventure. The inhabitants of Magical Days were creatures of all shapes and sizes. Fairies with delicate wings fluttered through the air, sprinkling glittering dust as they went. Talking animals roamed freely, their intelligence as keen as any human's.
THE ROLE OF ABAGUSII RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PRACTICES IN VIOLENCE TO WITCH SUSPECTS IN KISII COUNTY
The belief in witchcraft is deep-rooted among the Abagusii of Kisii County Nyanza province, Kenya. Abagusii have engaged themselves in violence towards witch suspects as an effort to eradicate the practice of witchcraft. Hostility to witch suspects has led to the killing of several people, others displaced from their homes and destruction of properties hence violating the human rights of the suspects. According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, everyone has the right to life, liberty and security. Therefore, no human should be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Consequently, the practice of violence towards witch suspects among Abagusii violates the basic rights of witch suspects. As a result, the government of Kenya and the Church have tried to eradicate this practice through arrests and evangelizing respectively but the violence still persists. This paper discusses the role of Abagusii religious practices in such violence, it also discusses the moral and legal foundation of witch suspicion 'crusades' among Abagusii, and the impact of this violence on families in Kisii County. The paper hypothesizes that Abagusii religious beliefs and practices contribute to violence to witch suspects in Kisii County. This paper is informed by data from Kisii County-one of the 47 Counties of Kenya-which is the home of Abagusii-one of the forty-two tribes of Kenya. Data was collected through interviews and group discussions conducted with informants who were selected purposefully.
Where witches hunt for ‘dead meat’ in graves
Graves in some parts of Kisii are dug to a depth of seven feet to ward off the witches The practice of sorcerers exhuming corpses among the Abagusii has been the talk for centuries but nobody seems to understand the phenomenon The corpse are allegedly devoured by the witches as the casket is used to ripen matoke
Kisii is infamous for witches, real or imagined. And none strike as much terror as those said to prowl graveyards in the dead of the night, and falling upon fresh graves to dig up decomposing corpses. They eat them, so goes legend.
The very thought of a loved one’s body getting exhumed and eaten sends a cold shiver down the spine of many among the Abagusii.
Thus, graves are dug to a depth of seven feet. Family members and neighbours light up homes and keep vigil by the graveside for days after burial in most parts of Gusiiland, some going as far as fortifying the graves with a slab of concrete to keep off witches.
For additional ‘security,’ the bereaved engage healers and arm themselves with talismans during vigils, lest the witches cast a spell that sends them into slumber land and steal the remains of their loved ones right under their noses.
But Kisii Catholic Diocese Priest Lawrence Nyaanga says nobody has ever come out openly to explain how the bodies are exhumed.
“As a church, we don’t take such stories seriously; they are mere imaginations. Those who have tried to open the graves on suspicion that their relatives have been exhumed have always found their bodies intact,” explains Nyaanga.
But so entrenched is the belief, Nyaanga says, that some families burn the dead using acid before covering the graves.
“I am against the use of acid to burn bodies, unless the deceased clearly stated so in a will. The dead should be respected,” he says.
Not surprisingly, although the practice of sorcerers exhuming corpses among the Abagusii has been the talk for centuries, nobody seems to understand the phenomenon.
Pastor George Ondieki of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Nyamira Conference admits the presence of cannibals in Gusiiland, but links the exercise to witchcraft - a vice he describes as satanic.
“Being a cannibal is one form of witchcraft and it is satanic. It’s beyond doubt that witches are agents of Satan who use their satanic powers to cause problems among human beings,” he told The Nairobian.
Sociologist Peter Morwabe who also ministers at Gospel Embassy Chapel in Kisii town agrees, saying the practice of witchcraft in the Kisii community is an open secret.
“There are several occasions where a coffin has been found without a corpse. These are instances where paraphernalia associated with witchcraft at grave sites suggest the dead could have been exhumed,” he says, adding that stories of relatives complaining of the soil covering graves sinking a day or two after burial are common.
He however insists that there is need for the claims of the dead being exhumed to be investigated.
But despite what the men of the cloth say, the rank and file of common wananchi speak of these sorcerers with a mixture of fear and dread, reason being suspect of witchcraft in Kisii attracts certain death in a brutal manner: they are burned alive.
Belief has it that after identifying a grave, witches look for people to help them carry the caskets. They walk to a doorstep and call out a name and through use of juju, command the occupants to wake up and sleep-walk with them to the graveyard, where they perform rituals to exhume bodies.
Once the corpse is out, the sleep-walking ‘helper’ “is compelled to carry it to the river where they wash it before moving it to a specified place for sharing.
If you’re lucky, the witches will let you go home. But you will remain dumb and unable to explain your ordeal to anyone,” a mzee from Nyamira who did not wish to be named explained to this writer.
Indeed, across Kisii and Nyamira, claims of people who mysteriously woke up having lost their ability to speak abound.
Michael Kimaiga, a Kisii elder, told The Nairobian that the coffins are put into good use. They are used to ripen matoke (bananas) and “I bet you’ve seen the ‘fat’ and yellow bananas along the streets of Kisii or elsewhere. Those are the ones!” said Kimaiga.
But there are those who argue cases where bodies are exhumed have nothing to do with witches but thieves seeking expensive coffins. Innocent Ombui from Marani says they buried a relative in late 2015 but were perplexed when the grave caved in rather fast.
“The body was flown from the USA and we highly suspect that those who exhumed the body were after the expensive coffin. We can’t tell how they managed to get the body out and later dispose it. It is a mystery that left our family broken because we began to suspect even close family members,” says Ombui.
Two months ago, residents of Kisii Town’s Nyanchwa estate found a man’s severed head and hand dumped by the roadside. The body parts were covered with a black polythene sheet in a new green bucket. The head had stitches on its forehead. Police suspect that the body had been exhumed.
Stella Mokua’s father was buried in February 2014 and together with her other siblings, they left home for work and returned after a few months to find the grave had caved in almost three feet.
“Though stories of witches exhuming graves abound, we decided to use more soil and covered the grave because we didn’t want to torture ourselves imagining that our father had been exhumed,” she says
And in 2016, comedian Sergeant Nyakundi (Samuel Nyakundi) revealed in a Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) documentary project that his mother was burnt to ashes when the community claimed she was a witch, an allegation he dismissed as cruel and false.
“My mother was not a witch because we are a family of nine. And there’s no way all of us could have failed to notice something strange about her. It was a traumatising experience.”
James Nyaisu, a resident of Bonchari constituency argues that such stories paint a negative picture of the community.
“We should focus on matters development and not on primitive issues that seek to derail our societal bond,” he advises.
Witchcraft, cultism top factors fueling human rights abuse in Kisii
Witchcraft labelling, culture and traditions have emerged as some of the factors that are fueling violations against human rights in Kisii.
The county has been rocked by killings and other incidents that have sparked public concern.
This saw the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights send a team to the county to conduct an inquest into the rights violations that have been targeting children, the elderly and the vulnerable in the community.
The commission on Friday said cultism and witchcraft that has seen an increase in body parts harvesting also emerged as leading factors as the inquest continues.
Other reasons given by those who spoke to the officials include land and inheritance issues, drug abuse among the youth, self-proclaimed militia groups, poverty and unemployment, family disputes and lack of integrity law and security enforcers in the county.
“As KNCHR continues its public inquiry in Kisii various concerns were raised and the conversation goes on with Human Rights Defenders, CSOs, CBOs and religious leaders to mention a few to ensure observance, promotion and preservation of human rights in the region,” the commission tweeted.
“This session will include findings from the screening of petitioners, recommendations to various actors, accountability from everyone and the way forward to reduce the human rights violations.”
The KNCHR commenced a six-day inquest into killings that have rocked Kisii in the recent past.
The inquest by the team seeks to unravel the murders that have left the country in shock and ensure the victims get justice.
The full report will be out once the hearings are concluded.
Talking animals roamed freely, their intelligence as keen as any human's. Wizards and witches practiced their spells, creating sparks of magic that lit up the sky. Each day in Magical Days brought something different.
One day, there might be a grand celebration in the central square, with performers and musicians entertaining the crowd. On another day, a treasure hunt might take place, with clues hidden throughout the land for seekers to decipher. And then there were days where the sky would fill with colorful hot air balloons, carrying passengers high above the trees. But it wasn't just the special events that made every day magical in this extraordinary place. Even the everyday activities were infused with a touch of magic. The flowers in the gardens bloomed in vibrant colors, releasing fragrances that danced on the breeze. The rivers and streams flowed with sparkling water, inviting curious creatures to take a refreshing dip. In Magical Days, imagination was encouraged and creativity was celebrated. Children could be seen painting colorful murals on the sides of buildings, while others gathered in groups to perform impromptu plays and musical numbers. It was a place where dreams became a reality, and where the impossible was made possible. Those who lived in Magical Days were filled with a sense of joy and wonder. They treasured their unique home and worked together to keep it safe and thriving. The protectors of the land, a group of wise elders known as the Guardians, ensured that the delicate balance of magic and reality remained intact. As the sun set on each magical day, the inhabitants of Magical Days gathered together to share stories and laughter. They marveled at the wonders they had experienced and eagerly anticipated the magic that each new day would bring. Magical Days was a place where time stood still and where the extraordinary was an everyday occurrence. It was a land of dreams and enchantment, where every day was truly a magical day..
Reviews for "The Power of Enchantment: Using Spells and Rituals to Create Magical Days"
1. Michelle - 1/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Magical Days". The story was predictable and the characters were shallow. I found it hard to connect with any of them because their development was lacking. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, which made it difficult to stay engaged in the story. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and well-written fantasy.
2. Brian - 2/5 stars - "Magical Days" had potential, but it fell flat for me. The pacing was extremely slow, and I found myself losing interest within the first few chapters. The world-building was also lacking, and I didn't feel fully immersed in the magical realm the author created. Additionally, the plot had too many cliches and tropes, making it difficult to stay engaged. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't read it again.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - I had high expectations for "Magical Days", but unfortunately, it didn't meet them. The writing style felt amateurish and unpolished, with frequent grammatical errors and awkward sentence structures. The character development was weak, and I couldn't find myself invested in their journeys. The plot, while promising, lacked originality and felt like a rehash of other fantasy novels I've read. Overall, I was underwhelmed by this book and wouldn't recommend it to fellow fantasy enthusiasts.