Veritatis Gaudium: Multidisciplinary Journal of Postgraduate Studies

This paper is a critical, phenomenological cum hermeneutical discourse on the apparent malevolent concept, “witchcraft”. Witchcraft remains a significant feature of African belief systems, shaping moral values, social relations and communal life across many societies. Despite extensive anthropological and sociological studies, its philosophical significance has received less attention. This study examines witchcraft beyond its common portrayal as superstition and explores its role in African moral thought and social organization. It is motivated by the continuing altercation between traditional witchcraft beliefs, contemporary human rights concerns and modern systems of governance in Africa. The study investigates the relationship between witchcraft, morality and social order within the framework of African philosophy. It adopts the hermeneutic and phenomenological methods. Hermeneutics is used to interpret the cultural meanings and symbolic significance attached to witchcraft, while phenomenology examines the lived experiences of individuals and communities that sustain such beliefs. The study demonstrates that witchcraft functions not only as a metaphysical belief but also as a moral and social institution. It serves as a framework for explaining misfortune, regulating behaviour, reinforcing communal values and promoting collective responsibility. The central thesis of the paper is that witchcraft occupies an important place in African moral philosophy because it operates as a culturally based mechanism for ethical regulation and social cohesion. Consequently, the study concludes that witchcraft should be understood through its moral, communal and epistemological dimensions rather than dismissed as an irrational belief. It recommends culturally sensitive legal, educational and religious interventions that protect vulnerable persons while respecting the cultural realities and moral values of African societies.

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