Superstition: Is ‘‘African magic’’ in sport a myth or reality?

To some, witchcraft has changed games, determined results and some lives have been lost in the process. To others it is rather nonsense and a kind of myth promoted by individuals who falsely believe in superstition. Initially, witchcraft has been associated with the football game in Rwanda, mainly in the senior league. But recently, the case was cited in one of newest games in Rwanda—cricket. About a month ago, the local cricket fraternity suddenly lost a batsman, the lively Prince Uwimanishaka. The cause of his death is still unknown. Unconfirmed reports indicate that the 20-year old youngster was recovering from a malaria bout but looked fit on a particular Sunday morning. A few days later, it was reported that the youngster had succumbed to an organ failure. However, there were some rumors within his closest circle of friends and family that Uwimanishaka could have succumbed to witchcraft from some “jealous teammates” who did not feel at ease with his steadfast rise to stardom in the game. According Rwanda Cricket Association (RCA) President Eddie Balaba, “Uwimanishaka was a major part of our national men’s team, a superstar in the making. His death shocked the cricket fraternity”. But the allegations were not reported to Rwanda Investigation Bureau for further investigations, according to the spokesperson Modeste Mbabazi. However, Balaba says that the allegations that Uwimanishaka could have been killed by witchcraft are” total hogwash.” “This is typical in Africa; because he died suddenly, people are bound to come up with theories to try and explain the unusual. From the information we got, he had actually shown multiple symptoms of being unwell for about three weeks. Coughing up blood, not passing urine for three days, severe back aches, all signs of kidney problems. Cause of death is almost certainly to be kidney failure. What caused the kidney issues is what is not clear,” Balaba said. Personally, Balaba says he does not believe in witchcraft. “However, I do believe that people can be poisoned through food and drink. Prince’s death was a result of health complications that weren’t diagnosed in time. What caused those complications will remain a mystery. I cannot claim to understand what goes on in football. I have not heard of any claims of witchcraft in cricket in any part of the world”. About the same time as Prince’s death, there was an incident during a local topflight league game between Rayon Sports and Police Football Club at Kigali Stadium that brought the game to a halt for over 10 minutes. A table salt container with a red cover was found on Rayon Sports side of the pitch from which Police FC players stopped playing accusing opponents of using fetishes so as not to lose the game. The suspected ‘juju’ was later removed from the pitch by Ramadhan Nkunzingoma, the Rayon Sports goalkeeping coach and the game resumed. This is not the first time Rayon Sports – who are last year’s champions - have been implicated in such charm. In December 2016 Azam TV published a video footage featuring a match clash between Mukura Victory and Rayon Sports in the local Premier League. This video was to later go viral, momentarily bringing to global attention Rwandan football, of course for the wrong reasons. Rayon Sports were trailing a goal down and the team’s talisman Moussa Camara had had a good game but with no goals to show for it. Upon seeing his three attempts on goal rattle painfully on the wood work, Camara, convinced his failure to score is the work of magic, took matters into his own hands. He went on to pick a suspicious item from one of Mukura’s goal posts which he said was a ‘juju’ installed to fend off any attempts at scoring by the opponents. Indeed, after removing the fetishes, he scored a few moments later, to which, many thought he had been vindicated. Rayon Sports are not the only team to be associated with the “African Magic”, according to several fans and sports journalists who follow games on a much regular basis. “It is so sad that all these senior teams in the top tier use witchcraft,” Jean Paul Nkundineza, a sports Journalist told The New Times. To many Africans, witchcraft works once one believes in it because it affects the state of mind, he says. “But in real sense witchcraft is a waste of time especially in sports. Have you ever seen an African team winning the World Cup? Not any, let alone Amavubi qualifying for World Cup. Yet we see all sorts of awkward magic done in stadiums by fans and players,” Nkundineza added. According to Sports and Culture Minister Julienne Uwacu, witchcraft is a myth that no one should believe in. The minister says that only two things matter, when it comes to success in any sporting discipline; natural talent and hard work. Minister’s comments were echoed were echoed by the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA), President Rtd Brig. General Jean-Damascène Sekamana. He said that they have been forced to enact laws banning witchcraft in football after realizing that superstition is “negatively hindering the progress of the game in Rwanda.” “We have seen conflicts on the pitch arise from suspected witchcraft and all sorts of violence and this is unacceptable. Witchcraft does not work. It is instead undermining the progress of the game. Players and coaches as spending money on it instead of investing in more important things”. We are about to enact laws that punish witchcraft in football which will bring this baloney will stop.” Sekamana said. Laws may be enacted to fine the practice but whether African magic in sport a myth or reality, my guess is as good as yours. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Superstition: Is ‘‘African magic’’ in sport a myth or reality?