Devon Dick
LAST WEDNESDAY, The Gleaner's Editors Forum facilitated a debate on ganja. Again, the issue of decriminalising ganja was put on the table. Hopefully, the Editor will host a forum to look at the issue of decriminalising obeah.
Edward Seaga, in Revival Cults in Jamaica, said that obeah was outlawed in 1898. What was made illegal was the practice of obeah, the consultation with practitioners of obeah and the publication and distribution
of any material calculated to promote the superstition of obeah. But, the practice must have been illegal before then, because a man was hanged for obeah before 1859.
OVERRATED POWERS
It is time to decriminalise obeah. Haiti decriminalised voodoo under the presidency of Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Aristide, a former Roman Catholic priest, made it possible for voodoo priests to officiate at weddings. It would appear that the powers of voodoo are overrated otherwise the grateful voodoo priests would not allow forces to overthrow Aristide.
The harm that obeah can do is also overrated. Professor Orlando Patterson, in his book Sociology of Slavery, dismisses a case where people blame obeah for the cause of the death of 100 Africans, which he concluded was really due to an epidemic. Baptist missionary Ernest Price, in Banana Land, records many instances of persons who blamed obeah, which he dismisses as mind over matter. He also related a case of one leading government official who opposed an obeah man. This official found that he was vomiting night after night eating his evening meal. He eventually found a white powder under a salt-cellar, which was used in his meal. It was analysed in Kingston and found to consist of crushed human bones. Now, that should be a criminal offence. Giving poison under the guise of obeah should be a criminal offence.
GOOD DEEDS OF OBEAH
In fact, obeah has been said to do much good. Even Ernest Price, who defined obeah as "witchcraft and magic", and a "terrible force in Jamaica" with origin in the "medicine man of savage Africa", ended his chapter on obeah by relating an incident in which a woman got good value for money from an obeah man in dealing with a difficult husband. He also relates seeing a row of cars outside the yard of an obeah woman. To his consternation, these wealthy, 'smart' people believed that "a poor old woman, ignorant and disease-eaten, unable to rid herself from the loathsomeness ... can tell the fortunes and heal the love-sickness and conquer the rivalries of people cleverer and richer than herself."
It is a fact that Jamaica's history would have been different without obeah. Jamaica has benefited from obeah. Tacky's rebellion in 1760 was facilitated by obeahmen who inspired confidence in their followers. Many researchers admit to the role of obeah in the many rebellions of the enslaved. The ruling class outlawed it because they did not understand it and could not control it. Even today, people consult the obeah man for protection in travelling, doing business, getting a visa and for success in examinations.
SUPERSTICIOUS BELIEFS
As lawmakers did, some are quick to label obeah as superstitious. Lest we forget, the founder of the Baptist work in Jamaica was labelled 'superstitious'. Some would say that some church practices, such as the beliefs that the bread and wine at the Lord's Supper become the literal body and blood of Jesus; or that water baptism washes away sins, are superstitions. Was a former pope visiting Lourdes with the belief that the river has healing powers superstitious? Many past practices of the church were superstitious, including indulgences. And, some faith healers were fakes.
Obeah does not appear to be a threat to life, limb or property. It is a mechanism to rationalise misfortune. It is a way of life and belief system for some persons, just as how others believe in horoscopes, palm readers and fortune tellers. One historian described the function of obeah as "to terrify the timid, to detect crime, but generally to obtain revenge." Obeah is a 'belief kills and belief cures' activity. A fairly innocuous commotion.
With the current state of crime in our society, perhaps obeah could be part of the detection mechanism.
Friends, nobody has obeahed me to say, "It is time to decriminalise obeah."
The Rev. Devon Dick is pastor of Boulevard Baptist Church and author of 'Rebellion to Riot: the Church in Nation Building'.
