What the average Nyungwe person believes
From our 10 years in Tete, we have come up with the following explanation of what traditional religion involves here. Several local pastors have stated that this is what most people think. So, for what it is worth, here is our summary:
Most people follow African Traditional Religion, a system of witchcraft that requires sacrifice to ancestral and natural spirits. There are territorial spirits that control certain areas, but only the elders would know them now. Most of today's traditions are linked to the family. All members of a family have an obligation to participate in ceremonies in times of crisis whether it be sickness and death, economic difficulties or crop failure. There are ceremonies for protection from evil and for retaliation for perceived attack or curse. Magic to ensure luck in business or relationships. Charms or herbs to protect from sickness or heal an illness. Almost any event out of the ordinary is attributed to spirit activity.
Their traditions and belief system affect every area of life. Relationships are often filled with suspicion, jealousy, and fear. Any illness or pain is suspeced of having been ordered by someone who knows you. If someone is suffering more than others, he goes to to the traditional healer (nyabezi) to find out why he is suffering. Everything is caused by someone else. He will be told who has "ordered" the problems to come and will be offered a chance to protect himself and even retaliate against the offender.
If one gets ahead in life, he is suspected of having used strong magic/witchcraft to gain favor with evil spirits. This type of magic is very costly not only in money, but because someone will have to suffer or even die for the cause. This is of course illegal, but the practice exists in secret and suspicion and fear are very real.
Most people follow African Traditional Religion, a system of witchcraft that requires sacrifice to ancestral and natural spirits. There are territorial spirits that control certain areas, but only the elders would know them now. Most of today's traditions are linked to the family. All members of a family have an obligation to participate in ceremonies in times of crisis whether it be sickness and death, economic difficulties or crop failure. There are ceremonies for protection from evil and for retaliation for perceived attack or curse. Magic to ensure luck in business or relationships. Charms or herbs to protect from sickness or heal an illness. Almost any event out of the ordinary is attributed to spirit activity.
Their traditions and belief system affect every area of life. Relationships are often filled with suspicion, jealousy, and fear. Any illness or pain is suspeced of having been ordered by someone who knows you. If someone is suffering more than others, he goes to to the traditional healer (nyabezi) to find out why he is suffering. Everything is caused by someone else. He will be told who has "ordered" the problems to come and will be offered a chance to protect himself and even retaliate against the offender.
If one gets ahead in life, he is suspected of having used strong magic/witchcraft to gain favor with evil spirits. This type of magic is very costly not only in money, but because someone will have to suffer or even die for the cause. This is of course illegal, but the practice exists in secret and suspicion and fear are very real.
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