On Living in a World with Witches

The quintessential predicament of living in a world with witches was once summarized for me in a conversation with the woman I long ago came to know as ‘mother’ in Soweto, MaMfete:

You know, Adam, this thing [witchcraft] comes from a bitterness in somebody’s heart, like a poison, causing jealousy and hatred. And you can never know what’s inside someone’s heart. You can think you know somebody, but you don’t. And people who have this spirit of hatred, this bitterness, they can do anything.

(Ashforth 2000: 74) ¹