Themes in Spirit Possession in Ugandan Christianity

Spirit possession and belief in witches and curses are common in Uganda. Many possession stories share themes, especially sex as a motif for deviance and evil, and all contact with spirits is considered fundamentally dangerous. Comparing interviews and observations from Uganda with the book 'Saved from the Powers of Darkness', Ugandan cultural traditions, and Ugandan experiences of terrorism suggests Nigerian influence on some Ugandan expressions of spirit possession, though Ugandan traditions and experiences are probably more important overall. Breaking witches' curses can be a cohesive community activity, and casting out spirits is linked to a desire for moral reform. The evidence supports Horton's idea that spirit possession is a way to theorize the world to understand and affect it.

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Abstract

Spirit possession and the belief in witches and their curses is common in Uganda. This paper discerns a number of common themes that run through many of these experiences. In particular, sex as a motif for deviance and evil is noted as a common feature of many of the possession stories and all contact with spirits is seen as fundamentally dangerous. There is also some commonality in the content of some stories recounted by interviewees. This paper compares the observations and interviews conducted in Uganda and their common themes with Eni’s book Saved from the Powers of Darkness, with Ugandan cultural traditions and Ugandan experiences of terrorism to probe the origins of their conceptualisations. Through these comparisons it is possible to note Nigerian influence in at least some Ugandan expressions of the experience of spirit possession. However, Ugandan, rather than Nigerian, traditions and experiences are probably more important overall. Besides the traditions that are noted as influences on the way in which spirit possessions are expressed and experienced, the possibility for the breaking of witches’ curses being a cohesive of community activity is noted, as is a connection between the casting out of spirits and the resolve (or at least desire) to live a better, morally reformed, life in accordance with what is being preached in a church. This paper notes evidence that supports Horton’s suggestion that spirit possession is the theorisation of the world in order to understand and affect it. Key words : Spirit Possession; Witchcraft; Deliverance; Pentecostalism; Uganda