Heksen voor de rechter: de overheid op heksenjacht in Oost-Kameroen

Samenvatting

Since 1981 courts in eastern Cameroon have begun to condemn witches, & to sentence them heavily, despite the lack of solid evidence. Paradoxically, in colonial times, state courts persecuted witch-doctors for creating unrest with their accusations; now witch-doctors appear as key witnesses. Analyzing these cases in the broader context of the precarious relations between state & peasants, it is shown that the judges bring about a confrontation between two different discourses on witchcraft. In the official discourse, witchcraft is unequivocally evil; but in practice, the judges' attacks on witchcraft are subverted by the impact of local ideas. In some respects, the official offensive against witchcraft has the opposite effect of reinforcing local witchcraft beliefs. The ambivalent position of political elites in this regard complicates the process of state formation. 23 References. Modified HA