Tanzania: Information on witchcraft in Tanzania, especially "Lipeleko"
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 July 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | TZA27408.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Tanzania: Information on witchcraft in Tanzania, especially "Lipeleko", 1 July 1997, TZA27408.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abf64c.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Information on witchcraft and "Lipeleko" is scarce among the sources consulted by the DIRB. In a 25 July 1997 telephone interview, a programme officer with Street Kids International, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that helps street kids in the Third World, stated that belief in witchcraft in Tanzania is widespread and pervasive, particularly in the rural areas. She stated that being accused of practising witchcraft is a serious charge and could be dangerous to the life of the accused (ibid.). The programme officer was not aware of state protection available to the accused and to victims of witchcraft or whether or not those accused of practising witchcraft could avail themselves of it (ibid.).
According to 7 July 1995 Reuters report, a team of soccer plays, "fearing witchcraft, refused to go in the main entrance of a stadium in Mwanza, western Tanzania.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Reuters. 7 February 1995.BC Cycle. "Supersition Scores in African Soccer." (NEXIS)
Programme officer, Street Kids International, Toronto. 25 July 1997. Telephone interview.
Attachment
Reuters. 7 February 1995. BC Cycle. "Supersition Scores in African Soccer." (NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Confidential [London]. Weekly.
Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series [London]. Monthly.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1996. 1997.
The Europa World Year Book 1996. 1996. 37th ed. Vol. 2. London: Europa Publications.
Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Daily Reports. 1996.
Human Rights Watch World Report. 1996, 1997.
Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. 1996-1997.
New African [London]. Monthly.
West Africa [London]. Weekly.
On-line search on NEXIS database