Distinguish Sorcery from Witchcraft

959 Words4 Pages
Black magic, sorcery and witchcraft have always been part of tribal religion in all cultures. The words ‘witchcraft’ and ‘sorcery’ are used interchangeably in common English language. It is only the study of the two that a clear distinction can be seen. Anthropologists like to distinguish between them, and use them as technical terms. Because people believe that all kinds of mystical powers exist and that people can control these powers, magic and witchcraft are everyday realities in every African society. This essay is an attempt to draw a distinction between sorcery and witchcraft as regarded in the African traditional religious thought. Beyond the distinction is a discussion of the social functions of witchcraft in African traditional religion. In defining African witchcraft, one could say that sorcery, witchcraft and black magic are the anti-social employment of mystical powers to harm others and their possessions. Witchcraft clearly is a term used to describe the evil (such as persistent illness or bad luck) that some people inflict upon others. One definition by Pritchard, (1937), a "witch" differs from a sorcerer in that they (witches) do not use physical tools or actions to curse. According to Cohn, (1975), their maleficium is perceived as extending from some intangible inner quality, and the person may be unaware that they are a "witch". In the study of Stadler, (1996:88), witches are mainly older women. They have the power to free their spirits from their bodies at night, and then go out as spirits to harm people in different ways –without knowing what they are doing. What is unique is that they do not use “medicines” in their evil work. Their intentions are always evil. They are interested in death, disease and material loss. All of their desires are at odds with African social values, such as helpfulness and solidarity. In Africa
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