A Look at the Effects of Sorcerers and Soothsayers in Kano

Article Citation: Kabiru Labaran (2021). A Look at the Effects of Sorcerers and Soothsayers in Kano. DEGEL: The Journal of the Faculty of Arts and Islamic Studies, Vol. 19, No. 1. ISSN 0794-9316

A LOOK AT THE EFFECTS OF SORCERERS AND SOOTHSAYERS IN KANO

By

Kabiru Labaran

Abstract

Over the years, the evil practices of sorcerers and soothsayers have been one of the major phenomena widely jeopardizing religious beliefs as well the socioeconomic lives of individuals and society at large. This study examines the effects of the evil practices of sorcerers and fortunetellers in Kano who are mainly among Malaman Tsibbu, Bokaye and Mayu. In carrying out the work, the researcher consulted relevant books, journals, newspapers, conference papers, the Internet, media and social media. Interviews with some individuals who are conversant with the area of the study were also conducted to source information. The findings of this study reveal that sorcerers have been playing negative roles in instigating some weak- minded Muslims to commit apostasy, ritual killings, and different crimes such as fraud. Arising from the findings stated, the study recommends among others that intensive enlightenment and preaching to both practitioners and patronizers should be strengthened as a preventive measure. Likewise, taking legal action against magic practitioners should be maintained as a curative measure.

Introduction

Since the introduction of Islam centuries ago in Kano, the city has become a great center of learning and scholarship not only in Hausaland but in Africa in general. Numerous scholars had visited the city and contributed tremendously towards the actual teachings of Islam and fought against polytheism and any form of shirk.¹

Unfortunately, some charlatans and venal scholars emerge and corrupt the teachings of Islam on medication and proper means of achieving aspirations. These tricksters manufacture certain charms and talismans by using Qur’anic verses wrongly.

They also look into the unseen causes of events and foretell the future by a complex system of making marks on the ground which incorporate numerology and astrology. Such practices which they engage themselves in exercise great influence on the common people and, on the other hand, serve as a source of income.

Up to the present time, a breed of such venal scholars exists in Hausaland and Kano in particular. They are popularly known as Malaman Tsibbu who have been in some nook and cranny of the state, offering magical charms and amulets in the name Asiri or Lakani. In addition, some of them have engaged in writing pamphlets and books as guides to magic and fortunetelling. Such evil practices of magicians and fortunetellers have become a great tragedy as the directives and guidance usually offered by them to their clients are in many ways against the Islamic doctrine and detrimental to the socio-economic life of the society.

Apart from separation of marriage caused by their handiwork, they also play negative roles in fueling some religious and socioeconomic predicaments in the society. The way and manner magic is being perpetrated in Nigeria call for the concern of all well-meaning Nigerians regardless of their religious affiliation. It is in view of this the paper intends to highlight some of the effects of the evil acts of magicians with a view to providing workable solutions.

Effects of Magicians and Fortunetellers in Kano

The Almighty Allah Has created human beings to live peacefully on earth and worship Him according to His injunction. However, on the other hand, some impediments exist that hinder and jeopardize man’s effort in executing Allah’s directive and other worldly aspirations. One of such obstacles is magic which is according to Islam an act of shirk leading one astray. This study spells out three major negative effects that have been affecting Kano deleteriously as a result of mischievous practices of magicians and soothsayers. They are religious, social and economic effects.

Religious Effect

Islam opposes magic as it involves associating partners to Allah as well as causing harmful and unnecessary tension to others. The glorious Qur’an explains that the act of magic is an act of Kufr (disbelief).¹ This is apparently what the glorious Qur’an explains, and this is the view of some Islamic scholars, such as Imam Malik, Abu Hanifah and Ahmad Ibn Hanbal. On the contrary, Imam al-Shafi’i opined that only the one who associates partners with Allah in his magic will be regarded as a Kāfir (disbeliever). Therefore, according to him, the one that perpetrated magic with plants, seeds and other drinks will not be regarded as kāfir.²

Curiously, fortunetellers deviate from the right path by claiming knowledge of the unseen, which is the knowledge that belongs to the Almighty Allah alone. In a Hadith, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) describes the fortuneteller and the one that believes in his prediction as unbelievers.

Whosoever visits a fortuneteller and believes in what he said, indeed he disbelieved with what was revealed to Prophet Muhammad³

Based on this Hadith, some scholars such as Ahmad Ibn Hanbal and Imam al-Shaukani explained that fortunetelling through any means is a form of sorcery and its practitioner should be sentenced to death or detained until he wishes repent.⁴

In Nurul al-Bab, Uthman Ibn Fodio described the claimants of the unseen as unbelievers:

Among them are those who proclaim Islam and claim to have knowledge of the unseen (al-Ghaib) through calling the jinn or through observing the behaviors and sounds of birds, etc. Such should be considered as disbelievers.⁵

On the other hand, Sulaiman Ashqar explains that the fortunetelling practitioner through the ilm al-Tanjim (Astrology) and ilm al-Raml (sand divination) and guessing without the real knowledge of the crafts should not be regarded as infidel.⁶ According to what has been presented on this aspect, the first view of Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal and other scholars is upheld in this paper as the best as they based their argument upon the authentic Hadith.

Both the sorcerer and the fortuneteller strive to achieve their ambitions by using some means contrary to the Shari’ah. It is among their blasphemous acts against the Islamic faith (iman) to instruct their clients to prostrate to jinns and sacrifice animals for them and write the glorious Qur'an with impure substances. According to Abdulkarim (2012) the acts of prostration to the devotee of the iskoki (spirits) as well as offering sacrificial animals by some communities are all forms of shirk (polytheism).⁷

One of the most serious jeopardies to one’s belief in consultation of fortunetellers is having trust in them by regarding them as gods alongside the Almighty Allah. It is observed that whoever is accustomed to consultating such practitioners cannot embark on any engagement without contacting them and seeking their guidance.

 

In an interview, an Islamic cleric disclosed to the researcher that there was a time when a group of Qur’anic reciters came to his house informing him that a rich person contracted them to recite complete Qur’an for him. He asked them to throw behind their back each paper of the Qur’anic copy they recited.⁸

On 2^nd -March, 2016, Hisbah in Wudil Local Government area received a complaint from a man who accused his wife of consulting a soothsayer who gave her a charm and instructed her to insert it into her private part. In order to achieve her yearning, she complied with his directive. When the charm was opened in Hisbah’s office it contained full text of ‘‘Al-tashahhud’’ in which the husband’s name was written inside the letter ( ه ) of each name of Allah that appeared in the text.⁹

In another incident, a woman reported to the Hisbah office of Tudun Wada Local government area about the attitude of her husband, who she alleged practiced some mysterious practices. She further explained that he used to spend two weeks without taking bath, even in a state of al-janābah( major impurity ). ¹⁰ This practice was in order to maintain the effectiveness of his magical belief.

All the cases so far cited are grievous offences leading to shirk as far as Islam is concerned. This is in line with the view held by the entire Islamic scholars without disagreement. The acts of prostration to someone beside Allah, intentional abstinence from five obligatory prayers as well as mocking the names and attributes of Allah by exposing them into impurity, all are regarded as riddah (apostasy).¹¹

In fact, it is observed that some talismans and magical charms prepared by some Malaman Tsibbu contain Qur’anic verses which are mixed up or modified to suit the perpetrators' desire. Such types of talismans and magical charms are used for success in love, controlling of husband or wife, summoning missing person, harming an enemy and self-defense against harmful wild animals among others.

In view of this, Shaikh Abdulkarim al-Maghili had strongly opposed such talismans and charms written by some people to cause love, benefit, success or seeking protection against evil. ¹² Ibn Khaldun emphasized that the knowledge of talisman is part and parcel of sorcery. Therefore, whoever uses it and believes that it prevents harm or causes benefit by itself, such act is absolutely kufr, as he ascribes the power that belongs to Allah to something else. ¹³

Social Effect

In terms of social life, magicians and fortunetellers have been on so many occasions responsible for creating social disturbances, immoralities as well as crimes that exist in contemporary periods. Some relevant examples of their roles in fueling such vices are highlighted below.

Abduction and Ritual Killings

It has been observed that some magic practitioners are involved in the evil way of using human parts to achieving their aspirations. This practice is common among the secret societies and cult groups in the tertiary institutions, particularly in the southern part of Nigeria.¹⁴ A traditionalist from Osun state told Sunday Sun that killing human beings for various rituals is real and common among Africans. However, he berated herbalists and other traditionalists involved in ritual killings. He attributed the alarming rate of ritual killing to the tendency of people wanting to become rich at all costs and even at the expense of their parents and other blood relations. He added:

Not only herbalists and traditionalists are involved in ritual killings as generally believed in the country. Some evil-minded prophets especially the white garment group, use human parts as sacrifice for desperate politicians, businessmen and women and some internet fraudsters called yahoo boys.’’¹⁵

The tragedy of abducting people in Kano, particularly children in recent time is attributed to magicians. It was revealed that, from June 2016 to April 2017, no fewer than seventy children went missing. The victims of such evil practice are mainly the communities of Walalambe, Ladanai, Wuro-Bagga, Tishama, Sauna and Gunduwawa areas all of Nassarawa local government. Recently, an eight-year old went missing in Sauna area and was later found after he escaped from ritualists. It was noticed that a date was boldly written on his fore head, which suggested an execution date.¹⁶

However, when contacted about the rampant missing of children in Kano and the possibility of the existence of Gidan yankan kai (ritualists house) in Kano, the state governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje stated that he was not aware but he would not be surprised if such a house was detected due to the prevalence of mass abduction. However, the researcher records few cases that seem to be ritual killings. On 6th March, 2017 the corpse of ten- year old boy was found inside an uncompleted building in Dorayi quarters of Gwale local government area. According to the report, the two eyes of the deceased were plucked. ¹⁸ Another report revealed that a tenant was killed inside a house he rented at Unguwa uku quarters of Tarauni local government area. It was discovered that some parts of his body were removed by the assassins ¹⁹

Again, in October 2018, a media report revealed that two graves had been exhumed by unknown persons who took away the corpses believed to be used for rituals in Sagagi quarter of Gwale and another quarter of Dawakin Kudu Local Government, respectively. In a related case, another woman’s body was found in Kwa town of Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, in which some part of it were cut off by the perpetrators^{. 20}

The incidents reported above are criminal cases which are punishable offences as far as Sharia’ah is concerned. According to the Kano state Shari’ah penal code, whoever commits the offence of qatl al-amd (intentional homicide) shall be punished with death.²¹ This punishment is applicable to anyone who commits murder for human sacrifice or whatsoever. But the punishment of exhumers of the graves is left at the discretion of the court.²²

Murder and other Criminal Offences

According to the Kano state Police Command, magicians and soothsayers have been playing a significant role in assisting and stimulating criminals. This is by providing them with magical charms in the name of protection to commit robbery, fraud, kidnapping, stealing and many more.

Below is the statistical information made available to the researcher showing the record of cases related to magic reported to Kano state police command between 2012 and 2016.

S/No	Years Of The Cases	Number of Cases Reported	Number of Suspects Arrested in the Year	Age grade of the Suspects Arrested	Remarks
01	2012	40	50	55 – 65 Yrs	Case forwarded to court
02	2013	37	45	48 – 66 Yrs	Case forwarded to court
03	2014	45	52	52 – 60 Yrs	Case forwarded to court
04	2015	42	50	49 – 62 Yrs	Case forwarded to court
05	2016	50	55	55 – 67 Yrs	Case forwarded to court

Meanwhile, another record of criminals arrested and found with charms believed to be magical is also made available to the researcher. Below is the statistics:

S/No	Years	No. of Criminals Arrested	Age grade of the Suspects	Types of Exhibits Recovered	Remarks
01	2012	50	38 – 45 yrs	Charms	Case forwarded to court
02	2013	57	30 – 47 yrs	Charms and Amulets	Case forwarded to court
03	2014	62	37 – 40 yrs	Charms and Amulets	Case forwarded to court
04	2015	70	28 – 42 yrs	Charms, Amulets and Fake currency	Case forwarded to court
05	2016	85	22 – 40 yrs	Charms, Amulets and Fake currency	Case forwarded to court

 

In fact, this record is a clear testimony that Tsibbu practitioners have been playing negative roles in stimulating criminals in committing crime in Kano and other places.²³

According to Rahama Radio, a soothsayer was arrested with some other suspects for conspiracy and murder of one businessman in Rimi Market. The suspects tried magical power to hinder the deceased person from claiming the money they collected from him for a business transaction. When their effort failed, they abducted and detained him in a house of one soothsayer for several days before murdering him and later throwing his corpse into a well in Kaduna state.²⁴

Adultery and fornication

It is believed that women have been among the largest customers and patronizers of Bokaye (native doctors) and yantsibbu (astrologers).²⁵ Therefore, some of the practitioners persuade women to cohabit with them before offering help in the name of medicine. Some compel their clients to commit illegal sex before actualizing their needs. Media reports and Hisbah offices records in Kano testify to this.

A boka was intercepted by Hisbah men of Nassarawa local Government area for impregnating his client who happened to be a divorcee. The woman was lured to accept illegal sexual intercourse as the remedy to realize her desire.²⁶In Dawakin Kudu local Government area a boka was arrested by Hisbah men for cohabiting with a married woman, who desperately came to his house looking for a medicine of a certain illness.²⁷ On 22^nd August, 2017, one boka of Hotoro area of Nassarawa local Government area was arrested by vigilante guards, while committing illegal sex with a woman who happened to be his client.²⁸

The examples of unapproved attitudes exhibited by magicians above are not only in Kano but exist in so many places as explained by Muhammad Aminu Shaikho:

In fact, if you examine the manners and the deeds of the magicians (who pretend to be muslims) you will find them to be the greatest perpetrators of sin and adultery in the entire population.²⁹

They indulged in committing various offences including fornication and adultery, because they are associates of devils as explained by Sultan Muhammad Bello.³⁰

Causing enmity among the people and separating of couples

The glorious Quran states clearly that causing separation between couples is among the handiwork of sorcerers. There are many marriages which, in one way or the other, were spoilt as a result of the evil practices of soothsayers and sorcerers. This is either by instructing one of the couple, particularly the wife, to do a certain action that may cause the termination of her marriage or of her partner.

Aspirations of some women to have a powerful effect on their husbands through magical help are described as a great disaster that has been causing tension and rivalry among some families not only in Kano but in the entire Hausaland.³¹ In addition, mayu (witches), ỳanbori (spirit devotees) and ỳanduba (fortunetellers) have been playing negative roles in instigating and fueling social violence among individuals in this contemporary period. This is by giving prediction on a matter that negatively implicates others. They use to predict that someone is behind causing a certain hardship or sickness to others.

Such claims are mere falsehood and fabrication as no one has the knowledge of the unseen except Allah. The people who claim to be mayu are behind the accusations of defaming others in order to earn money from their clients. This happens due to the belief of maita in Hausa society as explained by Murtala (2013):

People, of course, do fear the menace of mayu to the last degree. Much of physical illness, as believed by the Hausa, is caused by them. If someone falls sick, the first thought of the causer usually would be a maye. ³²

He added, that is why majority of the people, particularly in the rural areas resort to them seeking their medical assistance and advice.³³ Therefore, their predictions are extremely injurious to the peace and harmony in the society. In fact, due to frequent reports of defamation and accusation on maita emanated by so-called sarakunan Mayu (witches rulers), the Kano state anti-corruption commission in November 2019 embarked on a war against the perpetrators. As the result, several mayu who defamed others were interrogated before the commission and admitted not having any possession of maita (witchcraft).³⁴ The researcher compiled relevant instances on this aspect:

On 12^thMay, 2016, a local barber in Sumaila local Government area told his client who has been suffering a certain sickness that she was bewitched by her uncle. ³⁵ Another report on Freedom Radio on 19th- August-2016 said a group of thugs carrying local guns attacked a house of an old woman at Sabongarin Gazobi. They accused her of bewitching their sister, as they were told by a soothsayer.³⁶ Similarly, the district head of Albasu revealed that a woman was killed in Daho town of his area in 2018 on the accusation of witchcraft.³⁷

Causing diseases, mental illness and unwanted behavior

It is among the effects of al-Sihr that Kano has been witnessing, inflicting a victim with various sicknesses. It is observed that some substances and instructions which bokaye and malaman tsibbu ask their clients to do to achieve their goals are detrimental to physical health of their victims. For instance, some people became abnormal mentally in their attempt to consult jinns. Likewise, the victims of kiranye³⁸ are compelled through magical power to come back home after being absent for a long period without preparation. Such act affects them emotionally. For example, a boka from Wudil local government area gave a certain amulet to a married woman instructing her to insert it inside her private part. And she complied with the boka’s directive in order to achieve her desire of controlling her husband. ³⁹This magical act of inserting charm in woman’s private part can easily cause infection of certain disease to the victim. It is also regrettably the attitude of some magicians and fortunetellers of discouraging their clients from going to hospitals for the treatment of illnesses and diseases which required medical attention.

On 9th March, 2018, a woman from Kurna was arraigned before the Ungoggo Shari’ah court for bewitching and inflicting mental sickness to a teenager. She was said to have conspired with one boka, who assisted her in performing the evil plot. One of the accused persons confessed that he was contracted to perform the bewitchment for spoiling the girl’s marriage scheduled to take place soon. But he denied involvement in causing her mental sickness.⁴⁰ Further investigation revealed that the accused persons were requested to swear, since the complainant had no witnesses. They both took an oath for which they were adjudged.⁴¹

As a matter of fact, accusations on bewitchment or inflicting one with illness through magical plot are difficult to justify before the judge unless with strong evidences and witnesses. Despite the fact that magicians can cause harm in collaboration with jinns, it can be uncovered only by learned scholars and experts. Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi affirmed that the impact of magic can affect the body or heart of the victim without coming into contact with him.⁴² Therefore, some of the accusations may likely be true but lack of strong evidence invalidates the claim.

Economic Effect

It has been an old tradition in Hausaland that tsibbu practitioners collect money for services to their clients. Some offer help in terms of medicine or protection against evil. As Chamberlin points out that Malams prepared medicine by washing Qur‘anic verses from the allo into a pot. The medicine might be for physical health or a remedy against evils.⁴³

He further stresses that some Malams look into the unseen causes of events and foretell the future by a complex system of making marks on the sand which incorporate numerology and astrology. Such practices which some Malams engage themselves in exercise great influence on the common people, and on other hand, serve as a source of income.⁴⁴

Sorcerers and fortunetellers have been collecting people’s money desperately in the name of assisting them to recover from certain sicknesses or realize life ambitions. Some of them have the knowledge of practicing magic and fortunetelling while others do not. In addition, some are involved in minting counterfeit and magical money, simply known as kudin ganye. Hisbah and media houses recorded several cases of fraud committed by some sorcerers and soothsayers of acquiring people’s wealth unlawfully, which is considered as an economic sabotage.

For example, on 19^th June, 2017, the Hisbah Command of Fage Local Government received a complaint from someone. He accused one boka of collecting the sum of N36, 000, in the name of purchasing perfumes and other ingredients which could be used in summoning a spirit (Jinn) to assist in minting US dollars.⁴⁵ On 20^th ,December, 2017, a woman was duped by an unknown person in Sabon gari market. He requested her to give him change of five hundred naira. After collecting his five hundred naira note, she wrapped it with seventy thousand naira and kept it inside her bag. Later, she realized that her money had disappeared. ⁴⁶ In addition, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission EFCC, on Monday 22^nd October, 2018, arraigned one suspect before Justice Lewis Allogoa of the Federal High Court Kano on a four-count charge bordering on the possession of fake US Dollars. In the course of investigation the EFCC operatives discovered that he was a popular native engaged in tsibbu activities in Kano. He was found guilty and sentenced to ten years imprisonment. ⁴⁷

The occurrences of financial scam so far cited seem to be the attitudes of sorcerers and soothsayers worldwide. They pretended to assist and cure people spiritually in order to achieve their own financial goals and other ambitions, but in reality, they destroyed people’s hearts and their bodies.⁴⁸

Conclusion

So far this study reveals and exposes some of the menaces and mischief that have been emanating from the evil works masterminded by magicians and soothsayers. Therefore, appropriate action has to be put in place in order to control and minimize the existing vices that have become injurious to religion, social as well as economic aspects of individuals and society at large. This study recommends two different measures as possible solutions in tackling evil practices of sorcery and soothsaying practitioners as well as preventing people from consulting and having trust in them. The measures are preventive and curative measures.

Preventive measures can be achieved through intensive enlightenment and preaching to both practitioners and patronizers. To accomplish this, frequent preaching in the media, social media, and religious gatherings by Ulama should be maintained. Belief and practicing magic and fortunetelling are not mere sins but grievous offences leading to blasphemy by expelling the offender out of Islam. In addition, teaching on Islamic means of curing some sicknesses and defense against sorcery should be intensified and incorporated into the syllabus of primary and Islamiyya schools. This will be a measure for establishing solid foundation in the hearts of younger ones in adopting Islamic teaching as best alternative than consultation of sorcery and fortunetelling practitioners for seeking help.

Another preventive measure suggested in minimizing the practices of magic and soothsaying in Kano is banning the importation and selling of the relevant books teaching the subject matter. As such books have been playing negative roles in dissemination of the knowledge among the Muslims. Curative measures could be achieved by hunting the practitioners and presenting them before courts for trial. This measure can be implemented by police with the support of Hisbah, as the Kano State Shari’ah Penal Code Law of 2000 regarded magic as prohibited and an offence that attracts punishment to the offender. Section 388, clearly states that, whoever knowingly has in his possession any charm or object which is pretended or believed to possess power to protect or give illegal benefit to any person in the committing of any offence shall be punished with imprisonment for six months or a fine of five thousand naira (N5000) or both. Other people in the society will also contribute in this regard by reporting any magic practitioner in their areas to appropriate authority for further action.

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