Black Magic in Nigeria: Here is My Take

Black magic in Nigeria is a controversial topic. Have a seat as I share my thoughts with you.

An assessment conducted by the CIA in 2018 has shown that Nigeria’s population is made up of 53.5% Muslim and 45.9% Christian. Also, Wikipedia describes Nigeria as a country with some of the world’s largest Christian and Muslim populations, simultaneously. Based on these stats, one could say that Nigeria is one of the most religious countries in Africa.

Why am I mentioning all these facts? Just relax.

I’ve always been curious as to why a country with such high modern religion percentages still experiences prominent cases of black magic. We see instances of it in newspapers and even on international news. We read stories of young girls being jinxed into prostitution or cases of animals swallowing government funds. As Nigerians would say, “No be Juju be that?”

Witchcraft or black magic is a popular topic often debated in social gatherings or amongst friends. One often wonders, “Is it all a hoax? Or could it be true that snakes swallowed millions of funds?” Oh well, since I am not a member of the Juju Occult, I can’t provide precise answers to these questions.

However, in this article, I’ll be sharing my opinions on black magic in Nigeria.

Table of Contents

What Exactly is Black Magic?

Black magic.

The Oxford Dictionary defines it as “magic involving the supposed invocation of evil spirits for evil purposes.” In Nigeria, black magic or Juju or witchcraft is an entity that is extremely submersed in our cultures and traditions.

Despite our modernization, we are still linked to our cultural beliefs. Therefore, for most people, the belief in witchcraft effects still exists.

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My Initial Thoughts About Black Magic

As a young girl from a strong Christian background, I wasn’t so aware of Juju even though I’ve watched some Nollywood movies that portrayed its effects. The movies featured people performing midnight rituals and disobedient children turning to yam tubers. But to the naive me, they were just movies.

Back then, I had assumed that black magic was more of a cautionary tale for the unruly. Even in schools, you’d see children warning their mates, saying words like, “Don’t touch that or you’ll turn into a goat.”

Juju was a way to instil fear and caution. However, as black magic began to gain more media attention, especially from the international community, I began to see things from another view.

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Facts I Discovered About Black Magic in Nigeria

The first fact I accepted was that witchcraft isn’t a new concept in this country. It is one of the oldest practices in Nigeria since it stems from the African traditional religion.

On a recent trip to Badagry, I found out that the clutch of black magic in Nigeria can be traced back even farther than the Atlantic slave trade. Those slaves were not just taken captive and forced to leave their communities. They were also taken to Juju men and made to swear oaths. Oaths that they strongly believe in to forget about their homes and everything.

It is clear that witchcraft, at that time, was a form of control which the leaders (Chiefs, Oba’s and Obi’s) used to enslave their people. They knew their subjects would not riot against enslavement once black magic effects were involved. They manipulated them with their cultural and spiritual beliefs.

Mind you, this form of religious and mental slavery still exists today. In this century, despite the existence of new religions, a substantial amount of people still believe and practice black magic. Marabouts, traffickers and kidnappers manipulate the beliefs of such people to use them to their advantage. This is why thousands of girls are being sold into prostitution in Europe and witchcraft is the aiding factor.

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According to Swissinfo, in 2016, about 11,000 Nigerian women were trafficked into Italy for prostitution, under the influence of Juju. The influence of black magic is so powerful that even when given a chance to escape, those women refused it. Their belief in black magic effects was so strong that they feared breaking the oath and would rather remain enslaved.

However, while some women or victims may have been tricked into their unfortunate situations, many are well aware of what they are getting into. But due to their economic situations, they are ready to swear oaths to whatever god or “apostle” just to get ahead.

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What Have I Deduced from All These?

It seems that we Nigerians have a gullibility for the supernatural. This is why all sorts of religious bodies and Juju in Nigeria thrive. Our religious nature, our attraction to miracles and “fast work,” is what make us prey to both the nefarious practices and black magic in Nigeria.

The pull of a heavenly being, god or apostle who can save us from our economic strife is just too strong to resist. Therefore, we look for gods to lean on; gods that can aid us to success. Most people seek this spiritual help because our governmental system makes our physical efforts feel like they aren’t enough.

I am also of the opinion that this weakness for the supernatural is a disadvantage of our deep-rooted connection to our culture and traditions. Additionally, I also believe that spiritual leaders helped in further tightening the hold that black magic has on its people. Pastors and Imams strengthened the existence of witchcraft in Nigeria with their various “binding and casting” crusades.

Juju became the reason for medical barrenness, cancer, poverty and unhappy marriages. Both political and spiritual leaders mounted the fear and glorification of Juju in the minds of Nigerians. Lastly, I believe that this irrational fear cannot be eradicated anytime soon.

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Conclusion

As a Nigerian, I do not doubt the fact that black magic exists. After all, light and darkness coexist. Moreover, wherever there are good happenings, evil practices also surface. From this article, it is clear that many have been manipulated by their belief in witchcraft.

To this end, we need to understand where spirituality ends and common sense begins. Besides, our spirituality should not be a weakness or something to be manipulated. Instead, it should be our strength and our moral guide.

Edited by Priscilla Ajayi.

About Author

Chioma Akorah

Akorah Chioma Diana is a recent graduate from the University of Lagos. A creative and content writer, her love for writing began in her Junior Secondary School when she became interested in reading.

A 2021/2022 KANAC Creative writing winner, excerpts of her work can be found in the KANAC Anthology, Pride Magazine Nigeria, and Tush Media Magazine.