Decolonising the imagined geographies of 'witchcraft'. Issue 2 (4th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Murrey, Amber
• Is Part Of: Third world thematics. Volume 2:Issue 2/3(2017)
• Page Start: 157
• Page End: 179
• Publication Date: 2017-05-04
• Subjects: Witchcraft -- development -- epistemicide -- Othering -- decolonizing -- spiritual geographies; Developing countries -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; Developing countries -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; Globalization -- Periodicals; 338.90091724
• DOI: 10.1080/23802014.2017.1338535
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2379-9978

Abstract

Abstract: Turning my frame of inquiry toward academia, I analyse academic presentations on topics of 'witchcraft' conveyed to majority-geographer, majority-white and majority-Northern audiences. I argue that (a) the imagined geographies of 'witchcraft' have been central to colonial Othering; (b) 'witchcraft' is often relegated to the academic periphery; (c) 'witchcraft' ontologies are plural, fluid and ambiguous and (d) 'witchcraft' is often defiant of academicisations. Given this milieu, scholars risk reproducing a 'witchcraft' that is Othering, even when/if the scholarship has an anti-colonial orientation. I call for greater attention to the broadening of academic conference exchanges to allow space for pluriform knowledges.