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Expenditures on Malevolent Magico-Religious Powers: Empirical Evidence from Benin

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 March 2019

Alison Lang ,
Philippe LeMay-Boucher  and
Charlemagne Codjo Tomavo
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Abstract:

This study investigates household expenditures on magico-religious powers in Southern Benin, with a novel focus on malevolent powers. Of 126 households, 18 percent reported expenditures on malevolent powers within the previous thirteen years. Investment in such powers for malevolent purposes was found to be significantly less frequent than for cure or protection. In line with existing literature, the following factors were found to be positively correlated with investment in malevolent powers: (1) living with a partner; (2) jealousy of economic success; (3) conflict within a social circle. Expenditures on powers for cure and protection are positively correlated with expenditures on malevolent uses.

Résumé:

La présente étude examine les dépenses des ménages sur les pouvoirs magico-religieux du sud du Bénin, avec une attention particulière portée sur les pouvoirs maléfiques. Sur les 126 foyers examinés, 18 pour cent ont déclaré avoir payé des actes de malveillance au cours des treize dernières années. L’investissement dans de tels pouvoirs aux fins malveillantes s’est avéré nettement moins fréquent que pour ceux portés à la guérison ou à la protection. Conformément à la littérature existante, les facteurs suivants ont été constatés être corrélés avec un investissement dans les pouvoirs maléfiques : (1) vivre avec un partenaire ; (2) jalousie d’une réussite économique ; (3) conflit au sein d’un cercle social. Les dépenses au titre des pouvoirs de guérison et de protection présentent une corrélation positive avec les dépenses au titre d’utilisations malveillantes.

Resumo:

O presente estudo investiga os gastos das famílias do Sul do Benim em poderes mágico-religiosos, com um novo enfoque na feitiçaria negra. Em 126 agregados familiares, 18 por cento declararam ter gasto dinheiro em feitiçaria negra ao longo dos últimos 13 anos. Constatou-se que o investimento neste tipo de poderes para fins malévolos foi significativamente inferior ao investimento nesses mesmos poderes para fins de cura ou proteção. Em consonância com a literatura existente, verificou-se que os seguintes fatores tiveram uma correlação positiva com o investimento em feitiçaria negra: (1) coabitação com um parceiro conjugal; (2) inveja perante o sucesso económico alheio; (3) conflito no interior de um círculo social. As despesas com poderes mágico-religiosos de cura e proteção correlacionam-se positivamente com as despesas em poderes para fins malévolos.

Keywords

magico-religious powershousehold expendituresBeninWest Africaempirical analysis
Type
Article
Information
African Studies Review , Volume 62 , Issue 4 , December 2019 , pp. 154 - 180
Copyright
Copyright © African Studies Association 2019 

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