“Witchcraft is a widespread reality in Africa and it under-mines our coexistence. We, as the Institute for Theological Education, are interested in considering the realities around us and reflecting on them on the basis of faith,” said Brother Paul Koukovi Zipki, Director for Research and Journalism, of the Catholic Mission Institute of Abidjan (ICMA), at the sympo-sium on “Witchcraft in Africa, Ways to Liberation”, which took place on April 16-17.
Philosophers, theologians and psychologists took part in the ICMA symposium and discussed the phenomenon under three aspects: the sociological and ana-lytical dimension, the theological dimension and finally the pastoral and social dimension. They tried to explain the problem of witch-craft and to look for ways and means to bring about an indivi-dual and collective mentality change. Wilfried Kpoda, clinical psychologist and psychopatho-logist, emphasized above all “to fight against the fear of magi-cians, which causes psychosis in people’s minds”.
“It is therefore necessary-he said-to develop awareness-rai-sing, information and education initiatives with the population on the mechanisms and strategies of witchcraft so that they no longer fear the magician but have the necessary weapons to fight this practice”.
A Family Where Faith Inspired Six Sisters to Religious Life
In the mist-covered hills of Venappara in Kerala, the Kallidukkil family became a remarkable witness to faith and vocation. Thomas and Thresiamma Kallidukkil raised their
