Hi there, Currently researching traditional healing and witchcraft practices in Africa (More specifically South Africa). I have found that there are many stories of creation within Africa, and all of these stories identify a powerful Creator. The creator and the ancestors are seen as good, pure, and favourable. I am looking for the antithesis of this. There is no explanation that I can find for the source of negative occurrences in African culture. There are references made to the influence of 'evil spirits' when an individual falls ill or experiences a string of bad luck. In South Africa, there are evil messengers known as 'tokolosche', however, that is all I can find on bad spirits. With all of that said, I want to know how African culture explains the origin, power and purpose of evil spirits. This can be any information regarding evil deities, demons, or even folktales referencing specific evil spirits. Thank you in advance for the help
This isn't quite on point, but it is interesting and has some bits which may help you out. https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00104051_242
Hmm, well, I don't know much about traditional religion in South Africa (aka Bantu or Zulu religions). My focus thus far has been more on west Africa, and especially Dahomey (modern Benin), Togo, Ghana and Nigeria, because its links to Haitian vodun and New Orleans voodoo (although the name "voodoo" is inaccurate, and refers only to the form practiced in Louisiana, which is a mix of the traditional religions of West Africa, Roman Catholicism, and Haitian vodou). I'm not sure if there are any links between west African vodun and South African religions. In west Africa, vodun is the oldest religion that's still extant and practiced. As for South Africa, this is useful as a start: Do people practice voodoo and witchcraft in South Africa? (from Quora). Be mindful that it's Quora, so don't take this as gospel. It says that witchcraft is practiced in South Africa but does not include all the aspects of voodoo, especially the bit encompassing Christian traditions. (Well, that's obvious). The main problem is that "witchcraft" and "voodoo" in the European tradition has been viewed as "evil" for so many generations that it's almost impossible to divorce the words from these pre-existing perceptions. I'm sure you know that "voodoo" (Louisiana spelling) is different to vodun (religion based in Haiti and West Africa). Vodun is a religion, centred around the spirits that inhabit trees, rocks and other inanimate objects. There are other aspects too, but I'm not an expert. That's what wikipedia is for, at least for a start. Try this: Traditional religions in South Africa and follow the links. As for West African vodun - well, Papa Legba is one of the best known vodun, a sprit through whom it is possible to contact the other gods. Therefore he is known as the intermediary between mortal and immortal. But, again, I'm not an expert. I am far more familiar with the loa (also known as iwa, or spirits) of Haitian vodun. Some of the best known are: - Legba (as before) - Erzulie, the loa/iwa of beauty - Baron Samedi, the loa/iwa of the dead - Gede, the iwa of death and fertility (who escort the deceased to their afterlife) - Damballah, the Sky God of the loa and creator god - Ogun Badagris, the warrior and strategist This short document from Webster University offers more details. I hope this helps!
In Brazil, the slaves from West Africa used to practice candomble. Give that a whirl on wikipedia maybe.
