The spirits that move Africa

摘要

Belief in gods and the spirit world is the bedrock of existence for most Africans. It is not unusual for football teams, for example, to employ a witchdoctor, and football matches often begin with a team ritual, such as the slaughter of a white cockerel in the goalmouth. In most of Africa, the world of spirits is reached through spirit mediums, individuals (often women) who can interpret dreams and guide people in placating the spirits. Many of them are also traditional healers; there is little distinction between the physical and the spiritual. Some are also witchdoctors employed to determine who in a community is a witch.