An Ancient Religion. The Importance of Witchcraft in Everyday Life in Burkina Faso.

In the African country this magical practices, witchcraft, still plays an important role in the lives of ordinary people, especially the many who live in rural areas.

In Burkina Faso it is said that 50% of the population is of Muslim religion, 30% of Christian religion and 100% of animist religion. In the African country this magical practices, witchcraft, still plays an important role in the lives of ordinary people, especially the many who live in rural areas. In the markets, even large cities like the capital Ouagadougou, hundreds of different animal fetishes can be found in free sale. Used by sorcerers for magical “protection” practices, but also to strike competitors or enemies of their “customers” at a distance. In the country albino children are often mutilated or killed, because their bodies are also considered very powerful fetishes. In rural villages the figure of the “fetish man”, a mix between the sorcerer and the traditional doctor, is still able to catalyze the respect and fear of most of the population. Bloody episodes of crime, which in the past have also involved members of the government entourage, have often been brought back from the police to witchcraft practices. An underground and dark world that continues to thrive, challenging every process of modernization of the country from the point of view of human rights. Process, for another, long since arrested, after the end of the evolution attempted in the country in the 80s by President Thomas Sankarà.