Fishing, thieving, witchcraft: apprehension and mistrust in maritime West Africa

This article explores the ‘apprehension’ that permeates life in coastal Sierra Leone as fisherfolk struggle to navigate a precarious economy of overfished waters and overstrained relationships. In context deepening uncertainty, social vigilance has come be regarded key survival skill. At sea, even fishermen strain their senses for evidence shoaling fish, they remain equally vigilant rival crews, who may seek deceive them competition same depleted resource. When crews return home with empty nets, again, exchange partners regard suspicion, watchful clues could have sold catch covertly another town. businesses founder or savings evaporate, people are quick assume fortunes must been invisibly robbed ‘in witch way’ by one neighbours. And yet, despite deep mistrust apprehension through which world, moral discourses about this supposedly rampant trickery nuanced. Despair at believing themselves grifted some unseen way is often tempered weary empathy antagonists’ poverty, grudging respect skills dissimulation. Pêche, vol, sorcellerie : appréhension et méfiance dans l'Afrique de l'Ouest maritime Résumé Le présent explore « l'appréhension » omniprésente sur les côtes du Leone, où pêcheurs s'efforcent naviguer une économie précaire surpêche des océans surtension relations. Dans un contexte d'incertitude croissante, la sociale est devenue compétence cruciale pour survie. Tout en scrutant l'océan à recherche bancs poisson, doivent aussi rester vigilants aux autres équipages, concurrence avec eux même ressource déclinante qui peuvent tenter doubler. Quand bateau rentre bredouille au port, acheteurs regardent l’équipage l'affût d'indices montreraient qu'il vendu sa prise catimini autre ville côtière. entreprise fait faillite ou que économies s’évaporent, on prompt croire c'est voisin l'a dérobé sans être vu, par moyen sorcier ». Pourtant, malgré profonde manifestée vis-à-vis l'environnement social, discours moraux cette malice prétendument sont nuancés. désespoir d'avoir été escroqué invisible souvent tempéré compassion pleine lassitude pauvreté l'antagoniste, voire réticent son talent Although it population around five thousand – enough considered fairly substantial town Leonean standards Tissana's homes thatched smokehouses straggle along such narrow, sandy strip shore rarely more than couple minutes’ walk from sea. By dusk, hundred boats will dragged water, ranging tiny dugout canoes impressive vessels requiring crew twenty strong men just haul yard-long fishing net Throughout day, move back forth 2-mile-long beach doubles town's wharf its main pedestrian artery, residents keep eye horizon, scanning appearance familiar patchwork sail, recognizable silhouette canoe, heading land. Suspense always part fabric times relative plenty. Whether fishers, boat-owners, fish-smokers, traders, almost everyone depends upon fish. The mercurial quality fish recurrent vigil waiting boats’ combine lend an overtone nervous anticipation daily life. Of late, however, mood suspense slid into something closer dread. Leone's ecosystem radically recent decades (Diggins 2019; Okeke-Ogbuafor, Gray & Stead 2020). Tissana, catches becoming ever smaller less predictable, grown wearily accustomed having hopes thwarted. sense Tissana work town, much Henrik Vigh (2009; 2015) observed urban Bissau, respond heightened uncertainty collapsing intensively scrutinizing material environment, attempting perceive fleeting opportunities half-concealed threats define everyday As I trace across ethnographic sections follow, emphasis watchfulness erodes already fragile workings scan where shoaling, but actions On land, boat-owners fish-smokers (banda women) hard forge bonds trust reciprocity fishermen; brittle. so do, alert erosion trust, fostered perpetual time also generates new ways perceiving occult, ocean not only space hidden view beyond horizon. Here, elsewhere West Africa, assumed possess perceptive capacities (referred ‘witch eyes’ simply ‘eyes’) empower see, move, visible surfaces world. Such powers morally ambiguous: evil. Nonetheless, threadbare uncertain economy, disconcerting surrounded both remarkably able conceal actions. evaporate (as apt do Tissana), silently There added pathos turn decline due combination factors, including climate change unsustainable local practices (Okeke-Ogbuafor al. However, most striking cause ecological stocks illegally pillaged international trawlers (Thorpe 2009; Virdin, Kobayashi, Akester, Vegh Cunningham 2019). Given explicit disturbing injustice situation, echoes centuries-old pattern violent exploitation powerful outsiders, was initially surprised my neighbours did seem devote energy reflecting explicitly structural violence underpins impoverishment. Across ethnographers documented anxieties ‘occult economies’ zombie labour witchcraft medicine murder resonate satisfying clarity offering clear critiques corrupt politicians extractive neoliberal economies (Comaroff Comaroff 2000; Meyer 1995; Shaw 2002; 2007; Shepler 2014). contrast, conversations ‘witches’ reflect two immediate tactical anxieties: no can fully trusted; perceptiveness apprehend what happening beneath structured three sections. First, elements discourse eyes’, contextualizing within broader literature occult Africa. second section describes how engage all fierce over dwindling discusses advantage ‘witch-eyed’ understood hold rivals. final returns anxious experience trading discern view: whether underworld out sections, emphasize that, real imagined, surrounding these ‘tricky’ behaviours surprisingly It long case region great value placed secrecy, ‘unusual understanding enable produce unmask highly ambiguous meanings’ (Ferme 2001: 7-8). So, life, make relationships long-standing aesthetic values concealment art fears act deception. From 1990s, anthropologists working Africa began recognize once relics precolonial past were thriving actively proliferating under conditions ‘modernity’ (Ciekawy Geschiere 1998; 1992). intervening decades, large emerged, tracing forces multiplied adapted injustices postcolonial 1995). many analyses, people's interpreted metaphor contemporary world order. example, Rosalind painted evocative account hypermodern dystopia described her Temne informants, which: ‘skyscrapers adjoin houses gold diamonds … street vendors roast “beefsticks” (kebabs) human meat airports dispatch planes destinations globe’ (2002: 202). She argued, convincingly, images extraction founded experiences global predation, historical roots stretching Atlantic slave trade. Returning Freetown aftermath civil war fuelled, least part, hunger diamonds, (2007) found proximity power ‘underworld’ had deepened further. Her interlocutors horrors erupted landscape spiritual corruption: interconnected anyone, village healers, statesmen, suspected participating sacrifice. Similarly, when Leoneans 2014 Ebola epidemic conspiracy, made rational grounded political violence, neglect, (Leach 2015; If you capsize sea [the trawlers] never try rescue your life! They we African away. cover numberplates if damage nets report numberplate? extent lives livelihoods being destroyed unaccountable fleets serving markets wealthier parts might expect particularly fertile territory predatory witches economies. stories exchanged were, indeed, rich wide-ranging, offer any ‘moralizing metacommentary’ (Sanders 2003: 339) nature or, politics. Instead, moved spaces disconcertingly relatable terms: used perception mobility cheat gain advantages fishing. big shop there, tree. A [They sell] everything! Like food, rice, clothes, pans, anything want loads tin-roofed generators. It's place! whole town! Only don't see it. You go there those eyes. Ima: Asana ‘see’ perfectly! He's twin. know that? His companion died. One he turned himself snake! Dulai: Yes, true! asleep bed saw Asana. He standing then snake: one. Really! Ah! Asana, he's ‘witch’! powerful! But love him. him school. Or, maybe footballer. Baby Jenny now, say she's gbeshe child born after twins] twin perfect. Even though small she doesn't sees everything. knows now; see. Except Dulai Ima draw connections between series characteristics associated shapeshifting, intelligence, exceptional insight thing absence particular concern children are, going grow up be, wicked. Whilst field notes peppered descriptions performing sacrifices shadow capacity unique access realm. fieldwork, wave anxiety sweeping response apparent spate murders: murders perpetrated witches, ‘ordinary’ criminals. short, suwa'ye [witchcraft] denotes indeterminate faculty. essence ‘wild’ extrasocial, becomes good bad entirely harnessed (1989: 93). Harry West's acclaimed book Ethnographic sorcery (2008) similarly emphasizes complexities contradictions witchcraft: clearly defined set evil diffuse thought action encompasses shades morality aspects is, argues, amorphous makes medium operations shape [to a] witch! ‘see’, become sorcerer, fishing, business. buy leaves sorcerer. take medicine, drop eyes whrooom! Some use promote business protect family. To extent, nothing new. Discussing Mende carried fieldwork 1980s, Mariane Ferme topography ‘the perceptual domain destabilized inhabit features landscape, lie surface solids fluids’ (2001: 5). Moving densely populated forces, ‘poor strangers strategic, illicit, secret knowledge landscape’ 2). continent insecurity, foreboding feeling unknowable realms proximate, threatening ‘inhabit overgrow’ manifest Filip De Boeck unease arising moment history growing numbers find struggling worlds economically, politically, socially ‘incomprehensible’ (De Fabian 2008: 143). certainly, seems urgent futile watch pillage ecology. below, increasingly unfathomable depths. Since cannot compete sonar technology trawlers, channel direction possible: tense another, vie water. living year when, morning, visiting boat captain Plantain Island took stick sketched me map Yawri Bay ground. Aside coastline, recognized easily enough, Tomi's revealed altogether unfamiliar. mark villages, roads, rivers tended think region's prominent landmarks. Rather, carefully parcelled intricate mosaic distinct watery spaces, defining depths seabed strengths currents utterly me. far side Island, marked grounds running away coast towards Ocean. pointed ‘Konah, Kaisa, Pokeh, Katatabul’ explained each differed neighbouring ground important aspect invisible, underwater terrain. Beyond indicated continental shelf off Atlantic: ‘We call “Open”, that's big, pass Then, here, Bompeh Konah grounds, We “Gutta [gutter] Ground”’. first detailed hidden, three-dimensional traverse day boats. emphasized thoroughly socialized become. ‘First time’, told me, ‘when went own’. Captains relied intuit concentrated. Depending tide, season, weather conditions, knowledgeable man look water informed guess veteran embodied acquired years practice discovering dismay unfathomable. With ever-greater density vying diminishing supply profoundly contested aside steering physical topography, contours constantly produced knowledge, friends rivals other likely distort information share introduction mobile phone contributed complex fishermen. Boat captains begin morning listening various rumours circulating wharf, trying build picture currently ‘dying’ greatest numbers. cases, Tomi individuals choose nurture sharing precious information: ‘If I've got friend boat, say, “Are dying are? Because here loads!”’ How trusted, easy discern. communities surround close-knit, depend networks provide vital safety net. Back invest heavily friendships ‘brothers’ boats, generously gifting portions successful 2017). fraught. Most asked agreed would rare encounter consider inviting More often, relationship intense guarded source competitive advantage. travelled aboard passenger (pampas) commute twice weekly Freetown, I, together fellow female passengers, given tantalizing glimpse male usually excluded. During three-hour journey, close shout greetings dozen stood glaring sun, horizon them, surface. Often, several congregated tightly together, slowly circling another. Yusef explained, ‘When like near-near means [they know] there. watching, watching water’. occasionally happened broken vigil. Their engine full blast, churning behind swerved intercept shoal spotted. All board motion, rapidly team cast before nearby occasion, pampa passed hauling our cramped perches edge craned kind landed. My passengers commented: ‘Do there? They're pulling net! That's work, there!’ ‘Look fish! happy today! Look, them’. true. congested four sized others yet heavy, glittering tension felt palpable. recalled Pa Brima's comment, few days previously that: ‘In us, heart. I'm get me!’ Attempts capitalize ‘knowledge differentials’ essential characteristic economic environments stock market bazaar (Geertz 1978; Walsh 2004). Yet little doubt fisheries specific infuse urgency. detect evasive resource, separating triumphant empty-handed fact learned, fractionally faster rivals, exactly found. therefore recurring oceanic otherwise disparate cultures paired ‘clear signs misinformation, deceit’ (Acheson 1981; Palmer 1990: 157). You're Perhaps [behind you]. wouldn't hurry! I'd paddle wait, right moment. BAM! Whoever casts first, it's done! now. war! this: too. them. you'll paddle. I'll fast Fishermen fight sea! Eeeee, bone bone! Physical! Boats near other, this, fight! dynamics play fascinating up-to-the-moment information, cultural context: which, described, ’strategies permeate multiple levels discursive spatial practice, realm regional politics mundane domesticity productive activities’ 1-2). dynamic neatly encapsulated initiation societies central role customary politics, esoteric dispensed society elders frugally piecemeal, reinforce mysterious charisma (Murphy 1980). person's determined position society. ‘it taken granted hungry knowledge’ (d'Azevedo 1962: 14), worldview allows possibility potent secrets concealed available exploited anyone sufficient interpretive skills. ordinary people, hunters. Suarez: his father hunter now he, too, animal light, witch, animal. know, very hunters things know. bush night. talk Albert admired imbue forest unpredictable dangerous potential. enter fear, neighbours, sometimes shapeshifting spirit form night 2000: 577). ‘A not’, Melissa Leach puts it, ‘necessarily sort person one's daughter marry’ (2000: 582). fact, similar qualities attribute ‘witches’. fisherman known ‘good where, instance, school moving developing, ‘knows’ behaviour birds follow ‘hunch’, ‘dream’ ‘feeling’ collectively acted (2011: 198). how, different-different languages? Well, listen, hear other. Every different own language. listen fish] tell bit. showed bit, can't do. fish], difference ones ones. These exceptionally skilled crewmen paid else without reason. on, phone-man consistently brought noticeably larger Where remained room disagreement, ontological status phone-men themselves. Whereas Usifu acute practical required accurately decipher soundscape, abilities expression innate state superhuman sensory awareness: summarized ‘witch’ possessing eyes’. Moses put ‘Phone-men “witch eyes”. “see”. fishes talk. place’. they're casting net, goes stay time, hour. gathers while sitting waiting. that. secret. No! pay person! People boast fact! back, long-valued ability ‘to present presented’ (2015: 111) urgency forms economic, political, volatility left engaged clues: environment gestures context, envy, skill enables continue navigating productively impoverished unreadable marine environment. ethn