The Witches of Gambaga

Introduction

• Speaker: Yaba Badoe, writer and filmmaker
• Location: Gambaga, Northern Ghana
• Subject: Traditional beliefs around witchcraft and their impact on women

Amina Wumble's Story

• Accused of witchcraft, expelled from her village
• Tortured and beaten, left for dead
• Took refuge at the witches' camp in Gambaga

Background on Yaba Badoe

• Born in Tamale, Northern Ghana
• Educated in Britain
• Fascinated by stories of witchcraft and its association with middle-aged women
• Been writing about the witches of Gambaga for 14 years

Gambaga: The Sanctuary for Witches

• Once the capital of the Northern Region, now a provincial town
• Famous for the oldest sanctuary for witches
• Claims town's gods destroy the potency of witches
• Over 1,000 women condemned for witchcraft live in camps

Life in the Camp

• Women find refuge but cannot leave without the chief's consent
• Many women tortured or threatened before arriving
• Supported by volunteers and the Presbyterian Church

Individual Stories

• Asana: Tortured by brother, nearly killed
• Awabu: Beaten and tortured for days
• Bintuck: On the run for three months

The Role of Belief

• Deeply entrenched belief in witchcraft causing illness and death
• Men are believed to use witchcraft responsibly, women are not

Historical Context

• The camp established due to the intervention of first Imam of Gambaga in the 19th century
• Imam Baba saved a woman, Adisa, from execution
• Camp built for women condemned for witchcraft
• Now under the custody of the chief of Gambaga (Gambarana)

The Current Situation

• Women work for their keep or pay for protection
• New arrivals undergo trial by ordeal (chicken ritual)

Issues and Dynamics

• Chief's Stake: Gains from the women's conditions; takes payment for protection and labor
• The Church's Role: Helps women return to villages, but resources are limited
• Confession and Trials: Women often forced to confess under duress

Broader Context of Witchcraft in Ghana

• Witchcraft beliefs permeate society and culture
• Cases in popular media and newspapers reinforce beliefs
• Belief used for personal gain, e.g., political rivalries
• Lack of natural death explanation; everything attributed to spiritual causes

Charismatic Churches

• Some churches exploit fear of witchcraft for their own gain
• Women often blamed for their own misfortunes

Women's Stories and Efforts to Rehabilitate

• Salmatra: Initially resisted, now reconciled to camp life
• Azara: Former prosperous trader, lost everything
• Zanabo: Chooses to stay in camp even after accusations

Rehabilitation Efforts and Challenges

• Presbyterian Church's Team: Led by Simon and Gladys, help women reintegrate
• Follow-up Visits: Track how women are adjusting after returning home

Community Attitudes

• Long-standing beliefs hard to change
• Encouraging signs of change in some areas (e.g., Chief's counsel)
• Women often live under strict conditions even after rehabilitation

Concluding Thoughts

• Chief of Gambaga benefits from the status quo
• Rising costs for women to leave camp
• Government's indifferent stance; lack of enforcement of protective laws
• Future changes depend on education campaigns to shift attitudes

Ongoing Advocacy

• Social activists and organizations pushing for change
• Recognition of the injustices faced by women

Final Notes

• Slow progress being made, but deeply entrenched beliefs remain challenging
• Future likely determined by the way chicken rituals are viewed and interpreted