Belief in 'Witches' among the Rural Wolof of the Gambia

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Periodical article

Title:	Belief in 'Witches' among the Rural Wolof of the Gambia
Author:	Ames, David W.
Year:	1959
Periodical:	Africa: Journal of the International African Institute
Volume:	29
Issue:	3
Period:	July
Pages:	263-273
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Gambia
Subjects:	Wolof witchcraft Religion and Witchcraft Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
External link:	https://www.jstor.org/stable/1157616
Abstract:	The Wolof of the Gambia have an extra-ordinary concern with witches (doma) who, impelled by an innate supernatural power they cannot resist, attack and 'eat' others. The object of this paper is twofold: to describe not only emotional reactions to witches, but to give an account of the behaviour ascribed to them, and the techniques for coping with their attacks; some functions and dysfunctions of these beliefs and practices will then be discussed.