Madness!!!

[cynical lady]

Dozens of villagers in the Kenyan district of Kisii are falling prey to superstitious groups accusing them of witchcraft.

 

The poverty-stricken western district, known as Kenya's sorcery belt, has seen an increase in mob attacks on individuals and even killings.

 

The poor and elderly in particular are being targeted.

 

Three months ago, a group of youths tortured five suspected witches before setting them on fire.

 

Joseph Ondiek's 65-year-old mother was one of those killed. He says says he and his family are living in constant fear and cannot even think about getting justice for their mother's killing.

 

"Our neighbours call us witches. We have no friends around and we are fearful," he says.

 

"I am also forced to go as far as possible from my village in search of jobs. No one who knows me will offer me any work."

 

Deeply rooted tradition

 

Al Jazeera's Mohammed Adow, reporting from Kisii, says witchcraft remains deeply rooted within the community despite the brutal killings.

 

"Every ailment, misfortune or trouble is blamed on sorcery. Some say even success here is attributed to witchcraft," he says.

 

"Lobby groups for the elderly have set up shop here to try and stop the targeting of senior citizens, spreading the message that burning of suspected witches is not an answer to sorcery."

 

Harrison Nyaribo, 70, had his home razed by a mob on a witch-hunt. He was accused of practising witchcraft, but says the attack on his home had other motives.

 

"I have never been engaged in sorcery. All this is is envy," he says.

 

"My children are all grown up, educated and have good jobs. I am also one of few people here who have stone buildings. This is the work of envious people."

 

 

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2009/12/2009122683921769977.html

 

Source: Al Jazeera

[Napoleon]

Madness!? This is Africa!

[cynical lady]

And your point is?

[Napoleon]

The point you ask? The point is, this sort of thing is typical of african countries. Ever heard of south africans 'raping' babies as a cure for aids. Madness is a daily occurrence on the continent.

 

P.s you seem defensive about the witches, makes one suspicious.

[cynical lady]

What a revelation.

[Cara.]

I think Naboleon was just making a joke but now you've forced him/her to defend a silly one liner

 

To take part in the generalizations though I also noticed you sujui are way more superstitious than other Somalis. What's up with that? Everyone who grew up in Tanzania or Kenya has met someone who has met someone who was possessed by Jin. I had a high school class mate who refused to take a shortcut one day because we would be passing a trash dumpster at night :confused:

[Jacpher]

^Why they take offense to the word sijuwi beats me. So descriptive and appropriate.

 

Burning a seventy year old grandmother to death is so sawaaxili. Balo idin dagtay.

[STOIC]

Haha Cara, I always step back before I set a foot inside my car.I even stay put for few seconds before I start the car so the jins can leave...I'm always on the look out for the wretched souls.I don't trust old people with greying hair and dry face.At night I don't walk alone if i do all I see is a spurt of fire twisting convulsively over my head out to get me.The silence of my room and any motionless perfection of any objects makes me wanna run away from my own shadow..Why did God choose me to be a sijui .Hahaa J/K