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Across the globe, belief in magical practices remains prevalent. Whether driven by hopeful desires or the influence of growing up in secluded communities, many individuals seek out witch doctors and self-proclaimed shamans. Even in today's modern world, some delve into ancient occult teachings, aiming to attain goals like eternal life, wealth, political dominance, or even casting curses on their foes.
10. The Failed Invincibility Spell
In numerous African nations, witch doctors continue to practice their craft and often earn a substantial income. In 2001, a group of about 15 men from Lambu, a village in Ghana, visited a local witch doctor. Seeking invincibility against rivals from neighboring villages, they requested a spell to make them bulletproof. The witch doctor advised them to apply an herbal concoction to their bodies daily for two weeks, promising it would render their skin impervious to bullets.
To test the spell's effectiveness, Aleobiga Aberima volunteered as the test subject. Tragically, when a friend shot him, Aleobiga died instantly. The villagers, furious that the spell had failed, nearly beat the witch doctor to death. The village elder eventually intervened to stop the violent confrontation.
9. The Shaman Cult of South Korea
In 2016, South Korean president Park Geun Hye faced massive protests calling for her impeachment. By 2017, she was imprisoned on charges of bribery and corruption. This saga traces back to Geun Hye’s early years. As the daughter of former president Park Chung Hee, she lived a privileged life in the opulent Blue House. Tragically, both her parents were assassinated in her twenties. Choi Tae Min, a close aide to her father, took the young orphan under his wing, guiding her into politics and eventually helping her ascend to the presidency. However, this seemingly ordinary mentorship had a dark and bizarre twist.
Choi Tae Min founded a cult known as the Church of Eternal Life, merging Buddhist and Christian beliefs with claims of shamanic powers. He persuaded Geun Hye that he could communicate with the spirit of her deceased mother. By the time she became president, the Choi family’s influence over her was likened to Rasputin’s control over the Romanovs in Russia.
Following Choi Tae Min’s death, his daughter, Choi Soon Sil, assumed control of the cult and its legacy. Park Geun Hye shared classified information and funneled millions of dollars into the Choi family’s nonprofit, which they used for personal gain. In return, the cult provided her with “magical” talismans and guidance supposedly from the spirit world. Relying on these “spiritual” directives for decision-making played a significant role in her eventual downfall as South Korea’s leader.
8. The Tragic Steam Exorcism
In 2016, Yan Yingmao, a 45-year-old man from a remote Chinese village, sought a cure for his ailing wife. After consulting witch doctors who performed various rituals without success, they claimed her illness was caused by demonic possession.
The witch doctors proposed an exorcism involving steam. They filled a large metal barrel with water, lit a fire beneath it, and waited for the water to boil. Once steam began to rise, they placed Yan’s wife inside a wooden barrel positioned above the boiling water, intending the steam to envelop her like a sauna and drive out the demons.
As the steam filled the barrel, Yan’s wife started screaming. The witch doctors assured him this was a positive sign, indicating the demons were leaving her body. However, when Yan demanded she be removed, her body was severely burned, her skin blackened, and her face swollen and purple. She died shortly after. The witch doctors vanished and were never found.
7. Large-Scale Spell Targeting Donald Trump
Numerous modern witches and Wiccans unable to attend the New York gathering chose to perform the spell at home using candles, crystals, and tarot cards. The incantation reads: “Bind Donald J. Trump, ensuring his harmful actions fail completely.” Wiccans clarify that the spell is not intended to curse or physically harm Trump but to prevent him from causing harm to others. While some dismiss this as absurd, certain right-wing Christians have labeled it a “spiritual battle.”
6. A Footballer’s Curse
Just before the 2014 World Cup, Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo sustained an injury during a match against Greece. Diagnosed with tendinitis and a strained left thigh, he was sidelined for the tournament. A Ghanaian witch doctor, Nana Kwaku Bonsam, claimed responsibility, stating he had placed a curse on Ronaldo from afar.
Bonsam elaborated that casting the spell required capturing and sacrificing four stray dogs. He allegedly summoned an evil spirit named Kahwiri Kapam, which afflicted Ronaldo’s legs, rendering traditional medicine ineffective. While he didn’t specify why he targeted Ronaldo, his goal was to remove top players from the competition to boost Ghana’s chances of winning the World Cup.
5. Witch Doctors and Kenyan Politicians
In 2003, Kenyan politician James Mutiso won an election despite curses placed on him by rival-hired witch doctors. Shortly after his victory, he was involved in a car accident that plunged into a river. His personal witch doctor, referred to as his “healer,” was also in the car. Both were trapped and drowned. Rescuers later discovered items in the car suggesting the healer had been performing spells. It appeared she prioritized victory spells over protection from malevolent forces.
Years later in Nairobi, a coalition of Christian priests united in 2016 to uncover politicians employing witch doctors for magic rituals to secure election victories. Although the pastors claimed to know the identities of these witch doctors, they couldn’t locate them or gather sufficient evidence for authorities. They convened at a church to pray, asserting that divine power would triumph over the dark forces of black magic.
4. Fatal Riots Over Magical Football Spells
In 2008, during a soccer match in the Democratic Republic of Congo, two local teams, Nyuki and Socozaki, faced off. As Nyuki was on the verge of losing, their goalkeeper resorted to casting spells on the Socozaki team. He practiced a form of African witchcraft known as fetishism, involving the use of magical objects and incantations.
In Western nations, waving a magic wand to “cast a spell” on opponents would be met with laughter and disbelief. However, in Congo, such acts are taken seriously, as many genuinely believe in the power of spells. The Socozaki team perceived this as a threat to their safety and attacked the goalkeeper.
Nyuki players rushed to defend their goalie, sparking a violent brawl between the teams. Police intervened with tear gas to separate the players. The clash resulted in 11 deaths and numerous injuries.
3. The Mysterious Death Notes
In 2008, a notebook listing alleged witches surfaced in a Kenyan village schoolyard. The anonymous author claimed it identified local witches. Police confiscated the notebook, and villagers convened a meeting. Many were prepared to kill those named, despite lacking evidence of wrongdoing.
Before violence erupted, an elderly woman stood during the meeting and declared, “I am a witch.” Others followed suit. Though the crowd was furious, police presence ensured the self-proclaimed witches were placed in protective custody. Dr. Solomon Monyenye from the University of Nairobi noted that elderly women are often targets of witch hunts. These women likely confessed to witchcraft, knowing police protection was their only chance of survival.
2. Chinese Spirit Masters Predicting the Future
Zhao Fucheng, a 74-year-old shaman, believes modern Chinese cities are eroding the mystique of his ancient craft. As millions of young people migrate from rural areas to urban centers for work, witch doctors are losing their clientele. Zhao, a self-proclaimed “spirit master,” uses birth dates aligned with a lunar calendar on an ancient scroll to predict futures for those seeking guidance. He also suggests traditional Chinese healing rituals or consults spirits if issues persist.
Shamans fear their tradition will vanish as younger generations abandon rural life. Even Zhao’s son rejects shamanism, dismissing belief in spirits. Like many ancient practices, shamanism in China is dwindling as modernity takes hold. Zhao foresees a significant decline in practicing shamans within 30 years, a vision of the future likely to materialize.
1. Disease Spread by Witch Doctors
In 2016, Chhem Yin, a 34-year-old man from Cambodia’s Pursat province, was hunted by his fellow villagers seeking revenge. They vowed to kill him, and eventually, someone shot him with an AK-47.
Yin’s murder stemmed from accusations of being a witch doctor. Villagers claimed he caused illnesses, some fatal, through magic. Convinced of his guilt, they viewed him as a menace. When questioned by police, Yin denied practicing witchcraft, but the villagers’ belief in magic sealed his fate.
Frustrated by the police’s inaction against alleged sorcery, one man took matters into his own hands, shooting Yin and targeting other witch doctors. He beheaded one and stabbed another. The vigilante remains unidentified and is currently at large.
Such incidents are not uncommon in Cambodia. In recent years, villagers in remote areas have taken extreme measures against perceived witchcraft, killing known witch doctors even if they were merely practicing natural healing methods.
