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| Title: | The vanishing sexual organ phenomenon in the context of Ghanaian religious beliefs |
| Author: | Sackey, Brigid M. |
| Year: | 1997 |
| Periodical: | African Anthropology (ISSN 1024-0969) |
| Volume: | 4 |
| Issue: | 2 |
| Period: | September |
| Pages: | 110-125 |
| Language: | English |
| Notes: | biblio. refs. |
| Geographic terms: | Ghana West Africa |
| Subjects: | Christianity magic sexuality body Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) Religion and Witchcraft religion Koro (Disease) Delusions Syndromes Collective behavior |
| Abstract: | In January 1997 there were widespread reports in Ghana about people possessing spiritual powers that could cause the sexual organs of other persons to vanish, shrink or be sealed, either by shaking their hand or by touching any part of their body. This phenomenon, which became known as the vanishing sexual/genital organ syndrome, resulted in a 'ritual' of instant mob lynching of the alleged culprits. Based on newspaper reports, live radio interviews with some of the accused who survived the mob action, and personal conversations with members of the public, the author describes cases of the vanishing sexual/genital organ syndrome and collates some of the views that sought to explain it. She focuses in particular on belief in the supernatural (witchcraft, sorcery, and 'ayera', a kind of magical power) as a causative agent, and wonders how such a belief can be reconciled with the fact that Ghana claims to be overwhelmingly Christian. She argues that the more Christianity intensifies its evangelization process, the more Ghanaians resort to the more familiar traditional beliefs to explain the inexplicable. In addition, social stresses prevailing at the time - political and economic tensions a month after the general elections in December 1996, religious strain in a period of Christian reawakening, anti-Ewe sentiments, and pervasive lawlessness - may well have acted as precipitating factors. Bibliogr., notes. |
