In West Africa, the cultural landscape is deeply interwoven with beliefs in the supernatural, spirits, and witchcraft. Even among those who identify as Christians and do not practice witchcraft, superstitions remain influential, guiding daily actions and decisions. These superstitions, born from a blend of traditional beliefs and fear of the unknown, demonstrate the pervasive impact of witchcraft in the region. Here are ten common superstitions practiced by West Africans who, regardless of their religious affiliations, remain cautious of the supernatural.
1. Avoiding Certain Foods
Certain foods are believed to attract malevolent spirits or bad luck. For instance, some people avoid eating snails or pork, believing these foods can cause spiritual contamination or invite misfortune.
2. Protection with Charms
Many individuals carry protective charms or amulets, even if they consider themselves devout Christians. These charms, often blessed by traditional healers or spiritual leaders, are believed to ward off evil spirits and provide protection against witchcraft.
3. Salt at Doorsteps
Sprinkling salt at doorsteps is a common practice intended to prevent evil spirits from entering the home. Salt is considered a purifying substance that can create a barrier against malevolent forces.
4. Avoiding Whistling at Night
Whistling at night is believed to attract evil spirits or snakes. This superstition is widely adhered to, with many people ensuring they do not make any whistling sounds after sunset to avoid unwanted spiritual attention.
5. Stepping Over Children
In some West African cultures, stepping over a child is thought to stunt their growth or bring them bad luck. Parents and elders are particularly vigilant about ensuring this does not happen, often cautioning children to be careful of their surroundings.
6. Leaving Shoes Outside
Leaving shoes outside the home is another practice rooted in superstition. Shoes are believed to carry negative energy or spiritual dirt from the outside world, and leaving them outside prevents this energy from entering the living space.
7. Covering Mirrors at Night
Covering mirrors at night is a precaution taken by those who fear that mirrors can act as portals for spirits. By covering them, individuals believe they can prevent spirits from entering or becoming trapped in their homes.
8. Avoiding Pointing at Graves
Pointing at graves or cemeteries is considered highly taboo. It is believed that pointing at graves can invite the attention of spirits, leading to bad luck or even possession.
9. Knocking on Wood
Knocking on wood is a superstition practiced to ward off bad luck after making a hopeful or positive statement. This action is believed to prevent jinxing oneself and ensures that good fortune is maintained.
10. Sweeping at Night
Sweeping the house at night is thought to sweep away good luck or attract evil spirits. Many people avoid this household chore after dark, fearing it could bring misfortune or spiritual harm to the family.
PART TWO….
These superstitions reflect the deep-seated fears and cultural practices that persist in West African societies. Despite the prevalence of Christianity and other religions, the influence of traditional beliefs and the fear of witchcraft remain strong. By understanding these superstitions, we gain insight into the complex and multifaceted nature of West African cultural practices, where the supernatural continues to play a significant role in everyday life.Across the lands of Africa and far beyond, whispers of the unseen still shape the lives of many. In Ghana and throughout the Black world, ancient beliefs continue to live quietly beneath the surface of modern religion. Churches may fill every corner, yet in the silence of the night, some still seek help from charms, spirits, and old traditions. The clash between faith and superstition has created a strange double life—one that few will openly admit but many secretly live.
Superstition is not new. It was born from fear, mystery, and the search for power over what we cannot control. Long before foreign religions arrived, people believed that unseen forces ruled every event in life—from sickness and death to success and love. These beliefs became deeply rooted, passed down through generations as warnings, rituals, and whispered rules.
Today, those old customs have not disappeared; they have simply changed form. Behind the walls of modern houses, beneath crosses and scriptures, there still exist charms buried in the ground, powders hidden in wallets, and rituals whispered in secret. Even those who speak strongly about faith sometimes return to these practices when fear overwhelms them.
This quiet blend of religion and superstition has created confusion in the minds of many. People pray to God in the morning and visit the shrine at night. They believe in the power of the Bible but still trust that certain stones, rings, or names can protect them from harm. It shows how deeply these old roots still run in the soil of the Black experience.
To understand this, we must explore the amazing and sometimes fearful world of superstition—those beliefs that shape behavior, control decisions, and reveal how the unseen still commands great respect in our communities.
The Spirit of the Ancestors
In many African homes, the belief that ancestors watch over the living remains strong. Offerings of food or drink may be placed in corners of the house, poured on the ground, or left on graves. It is believed that ignoring the ancestors brings misfortune, while honoring them invites blessings. Many still whisper prayers to their forefathers before beginning any new venture.
This deep respect for the dead shapes how people view life itself. Death is not seen as the end but as a continuation in another realm where the spirits of the departed can influence events among the living. Even those who publicly deny these beliefs often carry them quietly within, fearing that to disrespect their ancestors is to invite disaster.
The Fear of the “Evil Eye”
One of the most powerful superstitions concerns the idea of jealousy carrying spiritual force. Many believe that another person’s envy can bring sickness, bad luck, or sudden loss. This belief in the evil eye leads some to hide their blessings—avoiding public celebration or success for fear of attracting harmful attention.
Children may be marked with special symbols or beads to protect them from jealous eyes. Business owners might sprinkle water or oil around their shops before opening. Even in modern offices, some secretly carry charms or protective verses. This belief reveals a constant fear that unseen forces work through the hearts of those who envy others.
Witchcraft and the Shadow World
The word “witchcraft” still carries deep fear in many communities. Accusations of witchcraft can destroy lives and divide families. Some believe that witches fly at night, drain energy from the living, or cause illness through invisible means. In certain villages, when tragedy strikes, the first question asked is not “what happened?” but “who caused it?”
This mindset fuels suspicion and fear. Instead of addressing real causes like sickness or poverty, people may turn against one another, searching for a human source of spiritual attack. It shows how superstition can replace reason, keeping people trapped in cycles of blame and fear rather than progress and understanding.
The Power of Charms and Amulets
Many Ghanaians and Africans around the world wear charms or carry small objects believed to protect them. These may be leather pouches tied with string, special rings, or pieces of paper with spiritual writings. Some keep them in their cars, others in their pockets or homes. They are believed to guard against accidents, robbery, curses, or evil spirits.
Even those who call themselves modern may still hold on to such items “just in case.” It is the hidden belief that the physical object carries invisible strength. The irony is that while people claim to have faith in God, they often trust more in what they can touch, smell, or wear. This confusion weakens true spiritual power and replaces it with ritual dependency.
Rituals for Wealth and Protection
Many seek supernatural help to gain wealth, love, or success. Some visit secret shrines to make sacrifices, while others consult spiritualists who promise quick blessings. These practices are often done in secret, even by those who appear religious. It reveals a hunger for power and prosperity that has overshadowed patience, discipline, and hard work.
There are tales of rituals involving animals, special baths, or powders said to attract money or favor. But the price of such rituals is often high—spiritually and emotionally. People forget that nothing gained through darkness remains pure. What may begin as a shortcut often ends in bondage or destruction.
Dreams and Omens
Dreams are seen by many as direct messages from the spiritual world. A snake in a dream may be taken as a warning; a death dream may cause panic. Birds crying near a window, a black cat crossing the road, or a sudden chill in the air—these are often interpreted as signs of coming trouble.
While it is true that intuition has power, superstition often twists it into fear. Some people lose sleep worrying over every small dream or coincidence. Instead of living in faith and peace, they live in constant tension, waiting for misfortune to strike. This mental bondage keeps them spiritually weak and emotionally drained.
Mixing Faith and Fear
The greatest danger lies not in superstition itself, but in mixing it with religion. Many who call themselves believers still practice rituals of protection, consult fortune tellers, or secretly fear curses more than they trust their faith. This double-mindedness creates confusion in homes and communities.
When people depend more on rituals than on truth, they lose sight of real power. They begin to think that blessings come from physical acts rather than from spiritual discipline and moral living. This is how darkness disguises itself as light—through half-belief and secret fear.
The Hidden Cost of Belief
Superstition can provide temporary comfort, but it often leads to long-term fear. It divides families, fuels mistrust, and keeps communities from advancing. Time and energy are spent fighting imaginary enemies instead of solving real problems. It traps the mind in cycles of dependency and emotional control.
The human spirit was created for freedom, but superstition thrives on fear. When fear becomes a way of life, true power fades. The more we cling to these hidden beliefs, the more we surrender our strength to illusions.
Breaking the Chains of Fear
Breaking free from superstition does not mean rejecting culture—it means rejecting fear. Tradition can teach values, unity, and respect, but when it becomes a prison of fear and deception, it must be challenged. Knowledge, faith, and truth are the tools that cut the chains of superstition.
Communities must begin to teach critical thinking and spiritual maturity. The younger generation must be taught that true power lies not in charms or rituals but in wisdom, honesty, and inner strength. When minds are free, progress follows naturally.
Superstition may hide behind religion, culture, or fear, but its grip is still strong. In Ghana and across the Black world, it lives quietly within hearts that outwardly claim enlightenment. It shapes behavior, influences choices, and feeds on fear. But every generation has the power to break its hold through truth and courage.
We must learn to see the unseen not with fear but with understanding. When people stop worshiping fear, they begin to rise in strength. No charm or spell can match the power of a clear mind and a pure heart.
The time has come to expose the quiet chains that bind our thoughts. Faith without knowledge is weak; belief without understanding is dangerous. The light of truth must shine through the shadows of superstition until it fades completely.
Our ancestors walked through darkness because they had no other path. We, however, have the tools to walk in light. The choice remains ours—to keep superstition alive or to rise above it with wisdom and courage.
Superstitions may have gone wild, but so can truth—when it is finally set free.
