Geschiere, Peter. Witchcraft, Intimacy & Trust. Africa in Comparison

Diffused Intimacy: Trust and Self-disclosure in Online Relationships

Self-disclosure can facilitate the development and maintenance of online relationships but it also poses challenges — the overlapping of distinct social spheres and invisibility of audiences can make communication more complicated. The aim of this paper is to analyze the outcomes of this conflict between self-disclosure risks and benefits. Data from the Latvian online social networking/ online ...

‘Wives of the Gods’: Debating Fiasidi and the Politics of Meaning

force within the cosmological landscape, a danger to anyone’s well-being and described as an evil spirit (gbɔgbɔvɔ). In this sense, they are commonly referred to in daily conversations as “our friends” or gbɔgbɔ (spirit), alongside other unknown gbɔgbɔvɔ, as a way to discuss adzetɔ covertly and without attracting their attention. However, adzetɔwo are also described as being a quality of a pers...

Osteogenesis imperfecta in southern Africa: Peter Beighton's legacy.

Witchcraft and Magic in Ireland

Magic and Witchcraft Implications for Democratization and Poverty-Alleviating Aid in Africa

The belief in occult forces is still deeply rooted in many African societies, regardless of education, religion, and social class of the people concerned. According to many Africans its incidence is even increasing due to social stress and strain caused (among others) by the process of modernization. Most often magic and witchcraft accusations work to the disadvantage of the poor and deprived, ...