The year 2020 was marked by a global pandemic, economic crisis, and widespread social unrest. However, another unsettling trend emerged during this time - the witch hunt of 2020. In a world gripped by fear and uncertainty, people took to fueling unsubstantiated claims and accusations against individuals and groups, reminiscent of the historic witch hunts of the past. **The main idea** behind the witch hunt of 2020 was the widespread targeting and demonization of individuals or groups considered to be responsible for societal problems or setbacks. This phenomenon was fueled by fear, misinformation, and the need to find a scapegoat for the hardships faced by society. During this period, certain groups were repeatedly targeted and unfairly blamed for the challenges faced by society.
Four years after the Day of Unity, a method of removing the brands is discovered.
1 While a witch will be unable to perform magic outside their specialty, they will still be able to perform general spells such as levitation magic, albeit with greater difficulty. Young witches are encouraged to study under one of the main nine magic tracks in preparation for coven membership, and annually held coventions allow them to explore the various covens before making their choice.
During this period, certain groups were repeatedly targeted and unfairly blamed for the challenges faced by society. For example, the Asian community faced discrimination due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus originating in China. This led to an unjustified backlash against individuals of Asian descent, including hate crimes and discriminatory treatment.
Banished 'Witches' Sing Of Their Pain — And Their Dreams
Three of the women who sing about their plight — and their hopes — on the album I've Forgotten Now Who I Used To Be. Their names are withheld to protect their physical safety because they have been accused of witchcraft. Marilena Umuhoza Delli hide caption
toggle caption Marilena Umuhoza DelliThree of the women who sing about their plight — and their hopes — on the album I've Forgotten Now Who I Used To Be. Their names are withheld to protect their physical safety because they have been accused of witchcraft.
Marilena Umuhoza Delli
On a brief track called "I Stand Accused," a woman in a remote part of Ghana intones and repeats the title phrase with the intensity of a global town crier. She's accompanied only by the sound of pieces of firewood being struck together. But in her solitude she's speaking for a community called Witch Camp that has recorded the new album, I've Forgotten Now Who I Used To Be.
This singer is one of an estimated 1,000 women in northern Ghana who have fled their homes because of witchcraft accusations — and the fear that they will be physically attacked as a result. Reasons vary for such allegations: Some charges arise so that land they owned could be stolen. Other times women with mental or physical disabilities are condemned. Virulent sexism, ageism or personal jealousies are usually part of these accusations. Their livelihood can include chopping firewood for local chiefs and gathering discarded food for themselves. One track describes an especially harsh means of survival: "Abandoned (Forced Into A Life Of Prostitution)."
'I Must Build A New Home' -- A Song From The Album
-
Embed
For Marilena Umuhoza Delli, who produced the Witch Camp album with her husband, Ian Brennan, their stories convey personal resonance. They had heard about the women while working on similar projects around the world.
"My mother is from Rwanda and she's disabled, widowed, a three-time genocide survivor," Umuhoza Delli says. "I grew up poor in Italy in a conservative area, so it was impossible to look at these women's circumstances and not see my own mother. With Ian, as we have done in Tanzania, with genocide survivors in Rwanda and Cambodia, our objective is to provide a platform for these women who are otherwise censored or unheard."
Umuhoza Delli and Brennan have considerable experience in making such marginalized voices heard by encouraging them to turn their stories into songs. They produced the Zomba Prison Project album I Have No Everything Here, which features voices from a Malawian maximum security prison. For Witch Camp, Umuhoza Delli and Brennan traveled to three northern Ghanaian rural villages that house accused witches. (They did not name the villages out of concern for everyone's safety. Working with (and supported by) chieftains and translators who knew the local Mampruli and Dagbani language dialects, the producers spent two weeks recording in December 2018.
None of the women in Witch Camp have musical backgrounds.
"We recorded more than 100 people, six hours of music and most of the women are elderly, many in their 70s," Umuhoza Delli says. "The whole record is composed of instant compositions" — songs they improvised themselves.
"It was pretty fast, but it was incredibly intense," Umuhoza Delli says of the sessions. "We're talking about recording from morning until later afternoon."
The musical accompaniment, she says, is from "objects from their immediate environment: a teapot, a tin can, a balloon left over from a political rally." One of the few Ghanaian men in the camp who was accused of witchcraft — and is known as Wizard — played the talking drum on the album.
The compositions became mantras. Some women would say the same phrases over and over again, like prayers. The women wish to remain anonymous for their own safety, and, says Umuhoza Delli, "to let the songs speak for themselves."
"When they had the opportunity to sing, they were shocked and happy that there was such an interest in their lives," Umuhoza Delli says. "There was a positivity around this project, everyone participated actively and was very involved."
That energy comes across in "Love" and "Love, Please," with communal voices sounding almost ecstatic in response to the lead vocalist's pleas for love and acceptance. These exchanges also make the solo singers on most of the other tracks sound even more stark and piercing.
But whether Witch Camp features a group shouting together or lonely voices depicting the isolation surrounding these villages, an overarching sense of empathy becomes a life force throughout the album, especially with songs like "I Trusted My Family, They Betrayed Me."
Within Ghana, belief in witches has permeated across social strata and appears as a plot point in television programs. But Ghanaian media has also called for an end to perpetuating the false belief in witchcraft and advocated for re-entering these accused women into general society. Last summer, after 90-year-old Akuah Denteh was murdered following such an accusation, an editorial in the Ghanaian Times declared, "The lynching of Akua Denteh though heartbreaking and condemnable provides us a unique opportunity to take the bold decision to close down all such places [camps], liberate all the women who have been branded witches and indeed say 'no more witches camps.'"
The coven system was a system instituted on the Boiling Isles by Emperor Belos for categorizing magic into specific types. There were nine main covens with hundreds of other covens beneath them. The educational system trained young witches along scholastic tracks that prepared them for membership in their chosen coven.
Furthermore, various conspiracy theories emerged during this time, often impacting innocent individuals unjustly. These conspiracy theories ranged from accusations that 5G technology caused the spread of the virus to claims that certain political figures were plotting against the common good. These unfounded allegations resulted in individuals and communities being subjected to harassment, ostracization, and sometimes even violence. Social media also played a significant role in the witch hunt of 2020. With the ability to spread information rapidly, false accusations and rumors gained traction quickly, leading to public shaming and vilification of individuals without due process. This online witch hunt targeted not only public figures but also ordinary people who found themselves at the center of a viral frenzy, facing severe consequences for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Throughout history, witch hunts have been driven by fear and a desire for a quick, simple solution to complex societal problems. The witch hunt of 2020 was no different, as people searched for someone to blame for the hardships faced globally. However, this hunt for a scapegoat only perpetuated division and further eroded trust within society. In conclusion, the witch hunt of 2020 was a disturbing trend that emerged during a turbulent year. Driven by fear, misinformation, and the need to find someone to blame, individuals and groups became victims of unfounded accusations and discrimination. This phenomenon serves as a reminder of the importance of critical thinking, empathy, and the need to rely on verifiable information, especially during times of uncertainty..
Reviews for "Escaping the Witch Hunt: Strategies for Surviving Accusations in 2020 and Beyond"
1. John - 2/5 stars: "I found 'Survey the witch hunt of 2020' to be a complete waste of time. The author seemed to have an agenda and was just pushing their own narrative without any real evidence or balanced perspective. The book lacked any critical analysis and provided a one-sided view of the events of 2020. I was hoping for an objective exploration of the witch hunt phenomenon, but instead, I got a biased rant. Not recommended for those seeking a fair and comprehensive analysis."
2. Sarah - 2/5 stars: "I was disappointed with 'Survey the witch hunt of 2020'. The book promised to delve into the witch hunt phenomenon of 2020, but it only scratched the surface. The author made sweeping generalizations and exaggerated claims without providing substantial evidence to back them up. I was left wanting more in-depth analysis and a wider examination of the subject. I wouldn't recommend this book for someone looking for a balanced and informative read on this topic."
3. Michael - 1/5 stars: "'Survey the witch hunt of 2020' was a complete waste of money. It was poorly written and lacked any real substance. The author seemed more interested in pushing their own conspiracy theories rather than providing a well-researched and objective analysis. The book offered nothing new or insightful about the events of 2020 and simply echoed already debunked misinformation. Save your money and look for more credible sources if you want to understand the witch hunt phenomenon."
4. Emily - 2/5 stars: "I had high hopes for 'Survey the witch hunt of 2020', but it fell short of my expectations. The book lacked depth and failed to offer a nuanced perspective on the topic. It seemed to cherry-pick examples that supported the author's predetermined narrative while ignoring any contradictory evidence. I was left with more questions than answers and felt like I wasted my time reading it. There are better books out there that provide a more comprehensive examination of the witch hunt phenomenon."