Witchcraft And Development Among The Giriama: Understanding How Witchcraft And Development Can Work Side By Side.

Abstract: A bulk of research states that witchcraft is an antithesis to development. This thesis finds that that is an assumption, which cannot explain the case of the Giriama. The results of this thesis has the implications that witchcraft may indeed exist in a modern developed setting, that people in the West/North could have witchcraft beliefs as well, and that witchcraft does not have to be valued negatively. To arrive at this conclusion, witchcraft as a personal and social phenomenon was plucked apart, and then juxtaposed against different concepts of development. Combining Lucien Lévy-Bruhl’s theory of Mystical Participation with Mary Douglas’ theories on Grid and Group, witchcraft rationality is stated to be indicative of a category of worldview. This categorisation helps the reader to better recognise cultures with this particular rationality, and to understand the nature and consequences of the rationality. Throughout the text, the witchcraft rationality worldview is contrasted with the notions of social, personal, and economic development. It is in the end demonstrated that there is no negative connection between any of these forms of development and the social function of witchcraft belief. It is even shown that social development could be benefited by values of communitarianism, which are the values that are prioritised in the witchcraft worldview. The thesis then ends with recommendations on potential further applications of the analytical tool that was created during this thesis.