Joana Adesuwa Reiterer Austreibungsrituale about grotesque, witch villages and how they were violated as a 16-year-old

Women and children are being expelled, tortured and burned, because one assumes that they are witches. What sounds like a historical report from the European Middle Ages happens every day in Africa. Nigeria alone in 5,000 women and children living on the streets, sold and branded as a witch. Joana Adesuwa Reiterer was only 16 years old when her father cast her out. You should have a spell on him and his business ruined his guilt.

Adesuwa Reiterer was by him brought to Juju priestesses and Whit-church pastors who wanted to drive out the witches with grotesque rituals forces. So the woman seven days without food and locked in her room had to endure drinking or foul-smelling liquids. She fled. First, to Benin and then by her first husband Tony Austria. But even this soon made her witch powers responsible for his failure. Together they flew back to Nigeria, therefore, where Adesuwa had to undergo Reiterer an even more intensive seven-day ritual, where she was constantly put on drugs.

Travel into the past
It was followed by the separation and a new beginning with her current husband book now in Vienna, where she also founded the association "EXIT", which helps victims of human trafficking. 2010 she returned with a film team to Nigeria to go to for a documentary on the trail. She met her father again, who once reviled as a witch and learned affected women and children know that the same fate as befell. Add to witch villages, the branded and protected persons, in a juju priest and Pentecostal churches, she realized that she "is not destiny alone" with her. From these impressions, her book was "child witches".

derStandard.at: You write in your book again and again by the longing for Africa, especially Nigeria. Is this yearning after your research trip still available?

Joana Adesuwa Reiterer: Yes, that's her. But now it's already regulated. I was in Nigeria in November 2010 and this year in June. My brothers, sister and my mother but I miss very much - and the food. In Vienna you get any good African food.

derStandard.at: In one chapter you mention that in rural areas are up to 90 percent of all litigations witch trials. Where did you get those numbers? Did that surprise you?

Adesuwa Reiterer: I have this percentage of a UNHCR report dated January 2011 titled " Breaking the Spell: responding to witchcraft accusations against children "(: Responding to the accusations against witches dt children break the spell). Of course I was also surprised by the numbers, but rather by the fact that there are court cases against alleged witches. But then I saw an Al-Jazeera report, which was declared in the. Since there are no social services for the accused, is the only way to protect them from the village community, a prison sentence. People would kill the alleged witch else. I've known penalties of up to three years. I've also heard of prison guards who do not believe in magic and sorcery, and these women are then taken home to protect them.

derStandard.at: Have you considered during your research trip to Africa to help locally?

Adesuwa Reiterer: A[b]s the meeting was with my father before me was not clear what to do. So if I stay in Nigeria or to go back to Austria. But having met the affected people and seen things this bad, I knew that I must act. Therefore I have the "Project Precious" was launched, to provide the educational work in Africa. Currently, we are also talking with Nollywood (the film industry in Nigeria, ed), to produce a series, which shows that this witch thing is complete nonsense.[/b] We also want to collect donations for the witches' villages, which are repudiated adults and children shelter.

derStandard.at: In addition to all the terrible things you have experienced and seen, there were also wonderful experiences during your trip?

Adesuwa Reiterer: The best thing was actually to visit these villages and witches to see that there are people who offer to protect victims. It was also nice to see that women, despite their history, yet have such a zest for life and are thankful to live. The generally positive outlook on life is in Nigeria than in Austria. For us to be upset about late trains. In Nigeria, we are pleased that we survived.

wildwater:

As far as I got to know Nigeria, it may happen in some low level educational part of the country, but not, as the article says, be "standard" in Nigeria. And as you say, you have a sister that has such an "ambivalent" relationship to her country, that she is not ashamed to ruin it´s reputation by talking rubbish like that. I have been to your country and I am married to a Nigerian, I never saw such things happening there on my trips or heared about it in those parts of your country I visited. P.S: Congratulations to your translation

in European Newspapers there are always just articles like that forced, where negative Elements of African culture are published

BlackLibya:

This is what happens when you force an outside religion on people, and force them to abandon their traditional ways.

In Brazil and Haiti, African spirituality is held in high esteem, and the religions are peaceful. In West Africa, the only time people mention African spirituality is in a negative sense, always witches and burning people and spells and whatever.

wildwater:

I agree with that. I am just angry, because in European Newspapers there are always just articles like that forced, where negative Elements of African culture are published. Even if such things happen, which is a shame and just a sign of fear and low education of narrow minded people for me, I do not think it is proper for a Nigerian woman living abroad generalizing this on her country, as if it would be daily´s happening like witch prosecution in Europe 500 years ago. It ought to be the job of Nigerian people abroad to improve the image of their country, not to put it down.

BootyOnMe:

Europe, Nigeria. . .no difference.
The continent/country of babalawos!
Full of fetish, UGLY goons!