A South African newspaper report pegged the chances of a terrorist attack occurring during the World Cup at an alarming (and arbitrary) 80 percent. But we all know faith in the press isn’t what it used to be. It just so happens that the decline in credulity shown toward mainstream journalism has coincided with gains in trust in what witch doctors have to say.
Therefore, it is to our great relief that Zulu witch doctor Sebenzile Nsukwini is forecasting positive things for South Africa, not only for things to run smoothly as a World Cup host, but as a tournament participant as well. She is not alone in that assessment. 78-year-old identified soothsayer John Adatiri is forecasting maybe not a win for the South Africans, but certainly a better finish than most anticipate. Careful on taking it to the bank though -- he says this is the first soccer tournament he’s attempted to predict.
Auspicious Fortunes Await South African Team, Says Obviously Biased Witch Doctor
Furrow your brow if you will, but the word of witch doctors in not lost on the locals.
In Africa, where mysticism and magic play a part in many people’s lives, pronouncements from a ‘sangoma’ such as Nsukwini can carry as much weight as those from governments, especially when it comes to the murky world of security agencies.
In sport, too, sangomas have been a regular but unofficial fixture on the African team sheet, using their ability to commune with the dead to determine a player’s fortunes and whether a dose of sympathetic magic and traditional ‘muti’ potion is in order.
Lest you think the job of a prescient witch doctor is all forecast this and portend that, the sangomas have also been busy sacrificing livestock outside the Soccer City stadium in order to provide a spiritual boost to the home country team. Doesn’t sound like the most objective reading of the tea leaves to me.
