Last week Wednesday, at about 11:30, I got a call from my domestic servant Sina. She was in such a frantic state of panic that I could barely follow what she was trying to convey over the phone. Between her gasps and cries, I could hear that something had almost burnt her and that she thought the Tokolosie has launched an attack on her and the kids. As soon as I heard the word Tokolosie, I knew I had to get home fast. Since it is school holidays, my boys 8 & 9 years old, stayed on the farm in Sina’s general care.

The Tokolosie is a mythical black magic creature that the indigenous black Africans fear like hell. It’s reported to be about 12†tall (short), fat, with horrible red eyes. It only does bad things to you, and is capable of anything wicked, from just killing you through to making one’s balls fall off, with all the shades of nastiness in between.

Sina and her family have been working for me for close to a decade. She is a smart and delightful person that takes care of our house. When I have clients staying at my house, she’s the one that tends to their room and does their laundry. Her two boys, 11 & 13, are my sons’ trackers, gun bearers and general compatriots in mischief. Sina is wonderful with my kids, and we trust her completely. Her family is like an extension of my own.

When I got home I was relieved to find that my kids was off somewhere else on the farm, and did not witness the “incidentâ€. This is what was relayed to me:

Out of the blue two complete African strangers turned up at my house. They summonsed Sina (who was carrying her six-month-old baby girl Rebecca on her back in the African style), and her husband Daniël. The two men informed Sina that someone had cast a bad spell on her, and that Sina and her baby girl will die soon.

Sina being a practicing Christian said that she did not believe in their black magic and supposed powers. They said that they would “prove†their powers and proceeded by producing a black cast iron pot and showing both to Sina and Daniël that the pot was empty. They placed the pot on the ground and started reciting chants in some language unknown to my people, while waiving a cattle tail whisk over them. The next moment an explosion erupted from the cast iron pot, sending the lid flying a few yards, with a flame leaping 6 feet into the air. The strangers took their pot and left without a further word. Sina called me immediately.

A close inspection of the scene did not reveal any evidence of what caused the explosion, neither was there any sign of burned grass. The only indication that something happened was the strange tracks that correlated with their report of the events.

By 18:00 the same Wednesday evening Sina brought Rebecca to my house, requesting me to call an ambulance as Rebecca had become ill. On checking the girl I could see that she was running a high fever, and was visibly ill. Besides crying bitterly, the usually lively and strong baby was displaying a weak and almost lame posture. Instead of calling the ambulance, I drove them to the hospital in town, where Rebecca was admitted.

On Monday I spoke to the physician over seeing Rebecca. He had diagnosed pneumonia, had her on an antibiotic treatment, and was satisfied that she was well on her way to recovery. I spoke to the same physician yesterday, Wednesday. He said that she was fine and would be discharged today, Thursday.

I got a call from Sina at 17:00 today (about four hours prior to this post), expecting a request to come and fetch them after Rebecca’s discharge. But that was not the case. Sina called to inform me that Rebecca has just passed away.

First of all please pass on our condolences to Sina and her family. It is a sad ocasion when someone looses a child.

Next, there is no such thing as black magic. People die of pneumonia all the time. But if it would make the family feel better and ease their fears maybe you could invite your minister over to pray with the family.

About 20 years ago I was near Lake Turkana in North Kenya. My driver told me that one of the ladies at the road side market was a witch and that she was going to be "taken care of". I laughed and continued working on my Tusker. 20 minutes later a dust devil or small wind spout touched down just on the "witches" blanket full of goods. They were scattered far and wide. The goods on the blankets next to hers were not touched at all. My sympathy to Rebecca's family. Living in the West one tends to forget that there is a lot that we don't understand.

Muletrain how does Luke 8:2 fit in with there being no black magic? Call it what you will but there is a power out there (magic, the devil or just "strong" powers) that the educated western mind has difficulty grasping.

I am a Christian, and try to practice what I believe. I have seen too much "magic" including specific children being killed by hyaena's on a "witches" orders not to know that there are some very strange and dark forces at play in the world.

For anyone who doubts I recomend a little book called "God in Zimbabwe"

I agree with Muletrain's suggestion of inviting the appropriate minister to come over and pray with the family and to provide as much comfort and spiritual direction according to Sina's Christian beliefs. Although there are strange and powerful things in this world that we cannot explain except by attributing them to Satan and his followers, a Christian believes that God Himself is more powerful than all. Our sincerest condolences to everyone, including Daniel, Sina and their two boys.

Princes and principalities?

In Jasper and Kershaw Counties of South Carolina, there have been successful defenses of justification when "root doctors" have begun to cast spells or "put a root" on a prospective victim. The proposed receipient killed or injured the black magic practioner to avoid or break the spell.

I don't know the name of the former sheriff of Jasper County's name, but he wrote quite a fine book on muti as imported in the the Low Country.

I live on a barrier island off of the Georgia coast were Africans were brought "straight off the boat" from Africa. I can assure you that folks here believe in black magic and practice the same.

Black magic does indeed exist among the blacks. All you have to do is visit Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Florida, anywhere else in the Carribean, Brazil. . .and the list goes on and on across the world. (Besides the African continent itself)

quote:

Originally posted by dbltap:
Muletrain how does Luke 8:2 fit in with there being no black magic? Call it what you will but there is a power out there (magic, the devil or just "strong" powers) that the educated western mind has difficulty grasping.

Luke 8:2 does not mention black magic. It talks about casting out deamons and making the sick well.

Let me clear up what I stated. There is no such thing as black magic if black magic is defined as a human having the power to cause evil against another human by use of spells or potions. That is only possible if the victim believes in balck magic and makes themself sick. In which case the black magic practitioner only made a suggestion and the victim's weak mind did the real work.

I do believe in evil spirits. There is a basis of that belief in the Holy Bible. Evil spirits defined as entities of the devil or satin.

If satin has caused harm by placing evil spirits within a human then you need a young priest and an old priest. The power of the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ will make short work of the problem.

quote:

Luke 8:2 does not mention black magic. It talks about casting out deamons and making the sick well.

Sorry for confusing casting out demons with black magic.

quote:

Black magic does indeed exist among the blacks

I have also witnessed unexplainable events in Nepal, Bhutan and Micronesia they were all notable for their lack of people of African decent.

Satan is a very powerful being in this world. Yes he is real and yes he is powerful. But rest assured my friend that that there is a God in heaven and he is the great I AM, Yahweh or any of several other names. Satan will use any means of fear or deception to keep your eyes off of the one true God. Because Satan wants to take as many with him to Hell as he can. Satan tried to exalt himself above God once and God expelled him and his followers to this earth to stay until the final judgement.
Since this lady is a Christian please tell her that no matter what happens God is always in control of a Christians life. Tell her also that children who are not to the age of accountability (knowing the difference between right and wrong) are all going to heaven to be there forever and she will see her baby again oneday when she dies.

Said like a true Christian!

Amen, Cunningham & UEG

Brad

I saw an eye for an eye. String the Cast Iron Pot People Up.

And we wonder why Africa is the mess that it is, politically and socially.
Grizz

Exorcisms are still performed by the Roman Catholic church.
Peter.

quote:

Originally posted by Ganyana:
...there are some very strange and dark forces at play in the world.

I think Ganyana summed it up nicely.

And anyone who's been a bit around Africa or other less devolped parts of the world will know this is true, and that it's not just because the locals are superstitious. It seems to me that most "civilized" societies have forgotten that there is a lot that goes on in the world than science can't explain.

Riaan

That is a sad story.

I wonder what the two strangers actually wanted. I assume they intended to profit somehow by their threat.

quote:

Originally posted by Cunningham:
Satan is a very powerful being in this world. Yes he is real and yes he is powerful. But rest assured my friend that that there is a God in heaven and he is the great I AM, Yahweh or any of several other names. Satan will use any means of fear or deception to keep your eyes off of the one true God. Because Satan wants to take as many with him to Hell as he can. Satan tried to exalt himself above God once and God expelled him and his followers to this earth to stay until the final judgement.
Since this lady is a Christian please tell her that no matter what happens God is always in control of a Christians life. Tell her also that children who are not to the age of accountability (knowing the difference between right and wrong) are all going to heaven to be there forever and she will see her baby again oneday when she dies.

Good post! And yep, God's got the babies!

That is a sad story Riaan,
Wish her all the best.

Relating to what Erik said...true that, lots of superstition going on, everywhere in the world.
Be it African black magic or western/global religion involving collapsing, writhing, hysteria and miracal 'cures' (like the 'green cloth'!)---seems pretty similar with different 'marketing'.

Riaan, pleas pass on my heart felt sorrow to her, and prayers for you and her family,,

Years ago in another life I was a member of the priesthood, and learned that there are things man can do and cause to be done,, that just can't be explained away,, when people used to ask "Father do you believe in vodoo, or black magic" I always told them "I don't believ in it,,but I don't discount it either"

I was watching a documentary on the civil war in Liberia and the fourteen year old rebel 'soldier' claimed that eating the human heart of one of his foes, would give him powerful magic, probably bullets would bounce off him.

They actually showed them cutting out a heart from a militia soldier and the squad of rebels all tucking in to the raw flesh. Plus some even less savoury (pun intended) scenes too, unfortunately.

Black magic exists in European societies too. Witchcraft was practiced by early settlers in my home area too, supposedly with real results.

I do not think it is far below the surface in black African society.

my sincerest condolences and prayers to all affected.

quote:

Originally posted by Muletrain:
First of all please pass on our condolences to Sina and her family. It is a sad ocasion when someone looses a child.

My feelings as well.

quote:

Originally posted by NitroX:
I was watching a documentary on the civil war in Liberia and the fourteen year old rebel 'soldier' claimed that eating the human heart of one of his foes, would give him powerful magic, probably bullets would bounce off him.

They actually showed them cutting out a heart from a militia soldier and the squad of rebels all tucking in to the raw flesh. Plus some even less savoury (pun intended) scenes too, unfortunately.

Black magic exists in European societies too. Witchcraft was practiced by early settlers in my home area too, supposedly with real results.

I do not think it is far below the surface in black African society.

John,

Eating the enemies heart to gain strength has been used in quite a lot of cultures in the past. Yet for various reasons, what we consider horrendous acts of the ancient past, often continue to happen in present day Africa.

Back to Voodoo and "black magic", I think that the trouble is that we (modern, western man) have societies that have become a little too sterile and scientific. We have distanced ourselves from nature, and perhaps forgotten a bit of "old knowledge" that is still found in Africa and other less developed regions. And thus we intentionally ignore weird stuff that science can't explain.

Naturally, a lot of the things that go on in Africa regarding Voodoo and "black magic" is pure bullshit and manipulation for various reasons, usually to gain power or money. But there is still a lot that is clearly something else that is not just human manipulation. IMO!

Been a while since I visited. We have to remember that for most cultures, perceptions are reality. Whether black magic is real or a belief really makes little difference to those effected.
I was drawn to this post because I was in Liberia during the initial noncombatant evacuation. My scout had a "witches'" shrunken head hanging around his neck. I told the Marines I was with that whether you believe or not, you damn sure better respect it because it will get you killed. For some strange reason I just sent off a resume to be a civilian advisor in Liberia during the demilitarization process. Currently, I'm writing from my "tool shed" in Iraq where I serve as a counterinsurgency mentor/advisor. Not too long ago I was doing some canine security business in Sri Lanka. Prior to that, the USMC carried me to fun places.
My point: whatever society you visit, you will find beliefs that some will scorn as those of the uneducated or poor. That's not the case-it's a belief. I guess it came home to me when I was talking with a priest in the family and having one of those "educated debates". I hit him with a question and he started to answer. My MIL (a lovely and spiritual woman) broke in and told me quite simply that "sometimes you just have to believe." That summed it up for me and my only retort was that sometimes "we" have to let others believe differently.
So, whether you're a "person of the book" or any other religion, it is the belief that counts more than the reality.
Sorry long winded. Our mission got canxed and boredom took over.
Best,
Jeff Munshaur
P.S. JudgeG: Like your flag.

Found this African proverb recently and it kind of fits. Sad though.

"It is the woman whose child has been eaten by a witch who best knows the evils of witchcraft"


Nigerian proverb

Sorry to hear the sad news and loss of life amongst your people. My sympathy with them.

Please do us all a favour and find out from the physician what was the actual cause of death and post his findings here.

Lastly, those strangers were not there to convey a 'message' only - there are definitely other reasons too.
Double and more than that the normal attention is now needed on your farm security. Not that I want to scare you, but take special care and don't tolerate any strangers on your farm. Let your farmworkers and all know about this and let each and everybody on that farm report back on any suspicious or out of the ordinary movements of strangers in the area. Be wide awake!

Pray that you and your people will be OK.

My condolences to the family, immediate and extended.

If it's not already being done, it might be a good idea to have a doctor check Sina's health, no matter what anyone believes.

When I first worked in Africa it was for Rob and Clark Lungren at the Nazinga Game Ranch. They were the son's of Canadian missionaries and they grew up there. Clark was a preacher and held services at the ranch.

The atmosphere of the place lends a sense on un reality when the Harmattan wind comes and brings sand from the Sahara desert. Moonlit nights and sun lit days look much the same with there being only a slight difference in coloration. Odd stuff.

Clark believed in evil spirits and said he had seen them three times. He said they came in the form of a blue light and that the air went cold when they came. In Zimbabwe, Rob Murray, who was chief warden in Hwange Park also told me about seeing blue lights at night but I forget the context.

Witchcraft is very strong in Burkina Faso and Clark was constantly pointing out lumps of mud etc around villages that he said were idols. He showed me sacrifices placed in spirit trees and we used to take the clients to see a witch doctor call a croc out of a pond. It would come right up to our feet. But it was a conditioned response. The croc was fed chickens.

One day a headless body was found on the ranch and later a man was found in Ougadougou with a huge collection of smoked human heads. He sold them to witch doctors.

In the end I came to feel the whole thing was orchestrated by the witch doctors to get power and money and came to realize there are some very evil cultures and people in Africa. But I don't think there really is a devil or there really are evil spirits.

I see now where intellectuals are starting to call some witchdoctors "traditional healers" to throw a good light on them. Maybe there are some good guys among the African medical practicioners but boy there sure are some nasty ones. But I am quite sure a load of buck shot is a better solution to them than prayer.


VBR,


Ted Gorsline

I am sorry that this happened and you have my condolences.

But, IMHO, no one should pay any credence to any of this black magic nonsense, nor anything else that can't or won't be empirically tested and validated.

However, as has been said above, that of course doesn't mean that you shouldn't report and keep a sharp eye out for the two bastards who tried to intimidate your housekeeper. They are clearly con men and thieves and up to no good.

quote:

But, IMHO, no one should pay any credence to any of this black magic nonsense, nor anything else that can't or won't be empirically tested and validated.

Why do you want to throw all those priests, rabbis, imams and ministers out of work?

Riaan,
I am truly sorry for the loss of this child and the fear and heartache it has caused your friend and servant Sina. It has surely hit you very hard as well since you have come forward with this dark tale. It should give any resonable person reason to pause and wonder what all that might mean. I hope that you can take comfort in the replys posted on this ever lengthening thread. Never mind what I think, but I beleive that God in Heaven must be pleased to note that many men, mostly unknown to each other except via the Internet, have stepped forward with a profession of their faith and support for a families needs in far off Africa. Yes, I am a Christian and it's obvious several others writing in are also. Remember - "He that is in you is stronger than he that is in the world." I'm sure people will pray for your safety including those amongst us who may be Moslem, Jew, American Indian, or whatever. I know I will. God is blessing this discussion. Be of strong courage and faith as evil does stalk the earth until that appointed time.

One should read the book of Job in the Bible to understand the way things work. It is quite interesting. It would make a great sci-fi thriller.

Black Magic cannot be discredited. I am a Christian but do certainly believe there are some extra ordinary powers out there, not stronger than my faith but there all the same.

I worked in the bush for many years, with an intensive anti-poaching unit. We raided several Sangoma / witch doctor "consulting rooms" where we confiscated all the spotted animal skins. These guys DO have powers, some of which I have with my own eyes, and these powers are believed in so strongly by the local community that it is scary in itself.

They do things that to us are scientifically impossible, deep cuts that don’t bleed, burning the tail of an aardvark that acts as a heavy sedative. They believe they can rob premises and be invisible to the police after drinking various potions. A very scary but interesting topic.

My condolences to the family involved with the tragic loss.

A typical Voodoo fetish market (this one in Lomé, Togo) where people come to buy the tools of their "magic" trade. We were actually strongly advised by some ex-pats that had lived in Togo for about 30 years not to go there, as it was considered dangerous. And definatly not to eat or drink anything that was offered to us. We went anyway:



Notice all the small monkey skulls. Apparently, if you grind up the bone of a monkey skull into powder, and mix it into a drink, it'll make you smarter. Needless to say, we didn't try it out...

Putting a dried horses head, or dogs head, outside your door will keep your house safe from robbers. We were told. If an enemy is trying to put an evil spell on you, a dried owl will help protect you against the evil. Each animal part has it's specific use.

Besides all the various animal body parts, we had earlier been informed by some locals that if you were a member of the local Voodoo crowd, you could buy human body parts too.

A Voodooo "priest" standing next to his smelly fetish alter:


A fetish alter in Benin:


A sacrificed rooster on a mound of mud in the Dogon region of Mali. The locals were 100% sure that the picture would turn out blank! These people are for the most part Christian, but they still belive in "Black magic":


A lot of the above can seem kind of silly to educated people, but it was very serious and real to the locals.

Supersition,Voodo,Magic is a fascinating topic for me.
It pits logic against emotion.Guess who wins when the going gets tough.
Emotion everytime !
No amount of education can overcome childhood influemnces or culture.
We can logically dismiss humbug but fear it nonetheless when the unexplained happens and hurts.

Education is not judged very highly in current american (US) culture.Movie stars and athletes
are spuing their wisdom to the masses and genuinly believe to have an understanding of nature and reality.

We are not that far removed from medieval culture and superstition.
Nevertheless it helps at least me to recognize that science is the best tool to understand nature,rather than
a belief in the supernatural.Science does not claim to be able to know it all,and that fact is used by "the believers"
to "prove" its false and weak.
Science is constantly evolving as we learn to understand nature.

To label the unknown as black magic is wrong and dangerous.It leaves no hope of learning.

Thoughout times, people with some knowledge often have used that knowledge for their own personal gain.
Sometimes taken the form of a priest proclaiming special power.
Knowledge is power.

I am certain the unfortunate death of the child has a logical,non magical reason - even if we dont understand it today.It is also possible that the 2 visitors spread a known bug by aerosol and infected the 2 persons.
To keep once's sanity and overcome the atural instinct of emotion and fear, I think it is very important to
believe in reality - not voodo.
Voodo - however called in the local, is an evil act of man to gain power over another.

Hallo,

Thanks to all of those extending sympathy and prayers to Sina and her family.

The child will be buried today. The cause of death is easy to explain in “our†medical terms – any death can be explained in medical terms.

The kid got pneumonia, becoming so ill that blood was beginning to be diverted from less vital organs to the more vital organs. During this process blood supply to the stomach was very little. An ulcer started in the stomach. Due to the low blood supply the ulcer did not bleed much. As the kid reacted positive on the antibiotics for the pneumonia, her blood distribution became normal, the ulcer started bleeding profusely and the child bled to death. That we know after the fact.

Reality is that it is very difficult to convince Sina and her family why “our†medical system, that can provide such a nice concise explanation of things after the fact, should be regarded as superior to the “black magic†system that predicted the final result. In her mind modern medicine fought the evil curse for a week, and almost won, but eventually lost.

Sina is convinced that she will die once she has her child buried. She believes it so strongly, I’m afraid she might do something to hasten the “inevitableâ€. If she survives until tomorrow, we’ll start with the process of trying to help her pull her life and religion back together again.

Thanks to those of you that have sent e-mails with condolences to my address for Sina. It will be strengthening for her to know that people from all over the world are praying for her and her family. If any of you want to send a message to Sina, you’re welcome to e-mail it to toroas@yahoo.com. If you have a prayer group in your local congregation, please ask them to pray for Sina and her family.

As a medical scientist who managed 100 publications by the age of 45 (when I decided I should actually do something useful), I should discount all this "magic" stuff, black or white. But I can't - some things seem to defy science.

My limited understanding is that prayer improves the outcome of those suffering physical illness, especially if the ill individual is aware that many others are praying for him/her. I can only imagine that this effect is greater if the effected individual thinks "black magic" is causing their illness.

I'm emailing Sina now.

regards and commiserations,

mike

Riaan:

Now that we have a logical, medical explanation for the child's death one can safely say:

1. Pneumonia simply can't start as an illness in the child the same day it becomes so serious that the child need to be hospitalised.
With that I'm saying that other black people in the area must have known that this baby was ill for some time already.

2. Many black people in the area know that Daniël and Sina are working many years for you and that they are well treated by you as an employer. Some of these people may have something to do with the African strangers used by them to create fear and uncertainty at just the very critical time in Sina's life.
Reason being that hopefully your servants will leave your employment so that they can benefit from this favourable situation as replacements for them.

This may sound far fetched, but check it in the months ahead and you will certainly pick up stories to that effect.

quote:

The only indication that something happened was the strange tracks that correlated with their report of the events.

Obviously they will take preventitive measures so that you will not be able to track them down.

Jealousy and envy amongst African people play a major role in many of their doings.

Keep your eyes and ears wide open and you will see some of this come true in the months ahead.
Above all tighten up on your farm security and movement of strangers on your property.

Die makste hond byt die seerste!