May This Blog Be Cursed! - Witch Doctors In Malawi

May This Blog Be Cursed! - Witch Doctors In Malawi

By Charles Maruwasa and Praveena Naguleswaran

There are many cultural beliefs in Malawi, and believing in witch doctors is one of them. Witch doctors are also known as “asing’anga” in the Chichewa language.

Although controversial, witch doctors in Malawi are popular in communities and are well known. However, not every Malawian individual believes in the witch doctors since many believe that it is a force of evil and that they practice witchcraft. Consequently, some people are under the impression that witch doctors are a taboo. On the other hand, others do believe in the methods and practices used by witch doctors due to their own cultural beliefs or personal experiences.

Witch doctors are well-known for the following things:

A photo to show the tools used by a local witch doctor in Ntcheu

1. Providing medicine to treat STI’s (apart from HIV/AIDS and malaria). The ingredients of these medicines can include; herbs, tree branches, bark and roots in order to cure diseases.

 2. Making charms e.g. lucky charms which can assist someone in getting a new job, relationship or monetary fortune. To make lucky charms, the witch doctors take a bunch of small branches and tie them together to make what is called ‘zithumwa’

3. Fortune telling. People are curious to get their fortune told so they can plan their future better and accurately, as well as to see what is ahead of them.

4. Marital issues e.g. private part enlargement, breast and hips enlargement. People take part in these activities so they can please their partners and also to make themselves more attractive to get a partner if they are single.

5. Potions e.g. love potions to make someone love you or to bring back a lost love. The potions are made from branches and small barks mashed together with water and then drain the water into bottles. Clients looking for love are then supposed to drink these.

After visiting a witch doctor in Ntcheu, we found out that she started her profession by having a dream about it and thus it came as a calling to her. She then practised for several years to become an expert in that field. Most times witch doctors just self teach and others get trained through other family members who are already witch doctors.

It is very common for a Malawian to go and visit a witch doctor when they have a problem to get advice. Some Malawians believe that witch doctors are better than medical doctors due to cultural and personal beliefs. And for many, the practices and methods used by these traditional witch doctors have been proven to be a success.