1. The ability of a person to cause harm by means of a personal power that resides within the body of the witch

2.  Has become a bit distorted from traditional views of witchcraft:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N14Ho-VVPgA (from Disney’s Snow White) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N14Ho-VVPgA ▪ The concept of “Witch” has taken on a less-intimidating/romanticized more “story-book-monster” type of quality like Zombies, Vampires, Ghosts, Frankenstein, etc.

3.  (1937) Witchcraft, Oracles and Magic among the Azande by Evans-Pritchard.  This publication put the Azande (southern Sudan and northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo) “on the map” Anthropology-wise and made Evans-Pritchard famous.  Witchcraft or mangu exists within the body of an individual. Passed down from parent to child of the same sex (father  son, mother  daughter).  Important to the Azande is whether or not a person is consciously (or unconsciously) directing their mangu to harm someone else.  Witches are never strangers or those in a superior social position.  If someone is sick, various oracles are consulted. If the oracles point to witchcraft as the source of the sickness, authorities confront the accused witch. ▪ In order to reverse the harmful affects of his/her mangu the individual will perform a ritual that involves taking water into his/her mouth and then spitting it out, therefore cooling the mangu.  Mangu is blamed when an unexpected calamity occurs. The afflicted person must be the object of a witch’s hatred/jealousy/etc. in some way.

4. Witchcraft must be  Unlike Azande Witchcraft, this is a taboo subject not discussed in public. Witchcraft must be learned, it is not inherent.  Initiation into Navaho Witchcraft, is known as initiation into Witchery Way  Like the Azande, Navaho witchcraft is an anti-social and amoral behavior  Witches thought to congregate in caves at night, practicing incest and cannibalism, having sexual relations with corpses and perform ritualistic killings.  Learn Witchery Way from a relative, and it often involves killing a close relative like a sibling. Male witches are more common, as are old women.  Corpse Powder (made from bones and flesh of a corpse) is used to kill their victims. Often blown into the mouth and nose of a victim while sleeping or during a ceremonial.  Witches able to transform themselves and travel fast over land, usually by night.  Identifying a witch:  Follow unusual animal tracks to someone’s home.  An unexplained gunshot wound, when, during the previous day, an animal had been shot fleeing the scene of the crime.  If a witch is caught or captured, he or she is made to confess. If confession is not forthcoming, he or she is killed on the spot or later (presumably) by lightning.  Witchcraft beliefs here function to:  Provide a culturally acceptable manifestation of bad/amoral behavior  Defines what is “bad,” which consequently defines what is “good.”  Accumulation/hoarding of possessions usually indicates wealth, so encourages people to share/be modest in their possessions.

5.  Gnani village (Ghana). Witchraft as anti-social. Similar to Azande’s concept of mangu. Also, divination by Ordeal: http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/places/regions-places/africa- northwestern/ghana_ghanawitches.html http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/places/regions-places/africa- northwestern/ghana_ghanawitches.html  Similar example from Zimbabwe: http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/places/culture- places/work/zimbabwe_witchdoctor.html http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/places/culture- places/work/zimbabwe_witchdoctor.html  The Sonora witches’ market (Mexico). Witchcraft as anti- social. Similar to Navajo culture’s idea of purposeful witchcraft: http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/places/culture- places/work/mexico_blackmagic.html http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/places/culture- places/work/mexico_blackmagic.html