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Anja Ringgren Lovén (born 4 September 1978) is a Danish humanitarian and founder of the charity organization DINNødhjælp. Since 2012, the organization has been dedicated to protecting and rescuing children in Nigeria accused of witchcraft—a practice stemming from deep-rooted superstition that often leads to ostracism, abuse, or death. [2]
In the Nigerian states of Akwa Ibom and Cross River about 15,000 children were branded as witches and most of them end up abandoned and abused on the streets. [17] A documentary aired on Channel 4 and BBC, Saving Africa's Witch Children, shows the work of Gary Foxcroft and Stepping Stones Nigeria (now Safe Child Africa) in addressing these abuses.
West African mythology is the body of myths of the people of West Africa. It consists of tales of various deities, beings, legendary creatures , heroes and folktales from various ethnic groups. Some of these myths traveled across the Atlantic during the period of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade to become part of Caribbean , African-American and ...
Witchcraft accusations against children in Africa have received increasing international attention in the first decade of the 21st century. [1] [2] [3]The phenomenon of witch-hunts in Sub-Saharan Africa is ancient, [4] but the problem has been exasperated due to charismatic preachers such as Helen Ukpabio. [4]
Saving Africa's Witch Children [1] is a documentary directed by Mags Gavan and Joost van der Valk. It features Gary Foxcroft and his organisation Stepping Stones Nigeria who campaign against the branding of children as witches in Nigeria, primarily by the evangelical "Liberty Foundation Gospel Ministries", headed by Helen Ukpabio.
Many people in Nigeria still believe in witchcraft, with many victims being children. [1] [5] Other negatively affected groups include people with disabilities [6] [7] and women. [8] [9] Superstions in Nigeria can also affect aspects of Nigerian economy, [10] such as farming (ex. duck raising). [11]
Malawi faces a similar issue of child witchcraft accusations, with traditional healers and some Christian counterparts involved in exorcisms, causing abandonment and abuse of children. [9] In Nigeria, Pentecostal pastors have intertwined Christianity with witchcraft beliefs for profit, leading to the torture and killing of accused children. [10]
It also covers spirits as well as deities found within the African religions—which is mostly derived from traditional African religions. Additionally, prominent mythic figures including heroes and legendary creatures may also be included in this list.