On juju claims and black jealousy

In many communities, rich and successful folk, particularly business people, are often hogged by accusations of practising

“juju magic.” I grew up in a hood next to a shopping complex and I recall that during my childhood, the rumour mill was rife that the owners of a certain butcher and store had allegedly committed ritual murders to “strengthen” their businesses. Apparently, they also kept on their premises matholwane with a huge appetite for magwinya and atchaar! I also spent a lot of time in Bontleng, and there was a certain thriving businessman in the township alleged to abduct kids and killed them to make diphera. I remember once I came across him while walking from a tuckshop. Yho, I immediately turned on my heels! But he had already seen me and berated me for not greeting him. I pretended to not have heard him as I raced home. I was so frightened that I nearly peed on myself. I imagined him putting me in a sack and later cooking me in a huge black pot. Ironically, he was quite an amiable and popular man. I remember that he sometimes paid our family a visit, and every time when he left I would suspiciously peep from behind the curtain to check if he had not taken one of my little cousins along with him. Ha! Interestingly, I had a different encounter with him nearly two decades later, when I unexpectedly bumped into him in the neighbourhood. This time around, it was my sphincter muscles that threatened to betray me.

I was perspiring in places where the sun does not shine, and my heart was beating furiously. I however composed myself and greeted him politely. He extended regards to my family and jokingly asked if I was still naughty. (I went through a tomboy phase as a youngster and sometimes got involved in fights. Story for another day!).

After exchanging pleasantries, he asked about my prospects, encouraging me to always work hard in life. Honestly speaking, it was not the kind that I anticipated to have with an alleged child abductor! But as I intently observed his unkempt hair, hairy nostrils, domineering figure and boisterous voice, I had to admit that any child would be forgiven for naively believing him to be a likely candidate for rraboko. In retrospect, I believe that he was aware what people said behind his back but it’s just that he never stooped low and dignified the gossip with a reaction. Look, there are probably people who practise juju magic for whatever reason. I understand that the experts call it ‘African science.’ Mo botshelong ba ba dimatla ba a lowa, ba ba botlhale ba itowa.

The problem emanates when you harm someone in the process. But whatever the case, as much as you might get a hunch about someone or divine intervention indicating to someone/something being dodgy, without tangible evidence, it remains frivolous speculation.

The flipside is that some black people are enemies of progress. Black jealousy. When someone succeeds, jealousy and resentment often abound and the person is suspected of criminal or evil deeds, gotwe o na le dithokolosi kana o epa ko bo Malawi. It seems difficult for some people to appreciate other people’s blessings without clouding it with negativity. Even if someone has used their God given abilities to work hard to create a better life for themselves, instead of applauding them, go tla be gotwe owaai, motho yoo o tsena mo magageng, o latsiwa ke ditlhware. Lo ba bona ko kae, leng…gape ke eng lo sa dire gore e lo latswe le lona? Khi!