The Angola Witch Trials: Mass ritual murders in which 50 people are poisoned after being forced to drink a mysterious herbal potion to prove they were not sorcerers
- About 50 people died after being forced to drink an herbal poison
- They were forced to prove that they were not magicians
- Politicians accused traditional healers of making the deadly herbal drink
About 50 people have died in Angola after being forced to drink a herbal potion to prove they were not magicians, police and local officials said Thursday.
According to city councilor Luzia Filemone, the deaths occurred between January and February near the central city of Camacupa.
Speaking to the national radio broadcaster, she accused traditional healers of administering the deadly concoction.
“More than 50 victims were forced to drink this mysterious liquid, which traditional healers say proves whether or not someone is practicing witchcraft,” Filemone said.
Belief in witchcraft is still common in some rural communities, despite strong opposition from the church in the predominantly Catholic former Portuguese colony.
About 50 people have died in Angola after being forced to drink a herbal drink to prove they were not magicians (File Image)
Angola has no laws against witchcraft, allowing communities to tackle the issue as they see fit
The deaths were confirmed by police, who said 50 people had died.
“It is a widespread practice to make people drink the so-called poison because of the belief in witchcraft,” provincial police spokesman Antonio Hossi told the broadcaster. There were more and more warning cases.
Angola has no laws against witchcraft, allowing communities to tackle the issue as they see fit.
Accusations of sorcery are often settled by traditional healers, or ‘marabouts’, by having the suspect ingest a poisonous herbal drink called ‘Mbulungo’. Death is thought to prove guilt.