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A blog entry from May 24, 2010

Guli Wankulu

The Guli Wankulu, also known as Nyau, is a traditional cult that has extensive influence in certain parts of Malawi.  It is part of the Chewa tribe and according to folks does not have power over other tribes or those who have no blood relation with members.

A pastor noted that when the harvesting of maize and tobbaco come along, the churches will be empty as the farmers work very hard to bring in the crops.  However, if the leader of the Guli Wankulu, known as Namkungwi, says the spirits have advised her (usually a female) to call a festival, those same farmers will leave their fields to attend.  Everyone lives in fear of upsetting the leaders as they will be cursed with their magic.

The Guli Wankulu roam around with very ugly masks and it is said that those who are not Chewa may sometimes be kidnapped and taken to the graveyard to be initiated into the Guli Wankulu.  They are told to give them money to be free from such kidnappings.

They are known for their magic...turning people into animals, putting curses on people so they die, causing miscarriages, etc.  Those from the west normally "poo-poo" this, but if you believe there are demons then you cannot reject the possibility of some pretty dastardly things happening.  Though I believe that Satan is bound in some sense from scripture, I also believe he is active as God allows.  Some very horrible things can happen to anyone, but as believers we know that it does not happen without going through God's loving hand for a believer's sanctification and His glory.

One Presbyterian seminary professor spent years in the Congo as a missionary. Soon after arriving in the bush, a man came to him to say someone had put a curse on him, telling him he would die.  The missionary, in good, western thinking, said that it was foolishness and sent him home.  The next day the man was dead.  The seminary professor said he never poo-pooed it again.  Whether the man was poisoned or it was actually a curse, we do not know.  But, we know that God cares for His people even if that means bringing them to Himself at a young age or taking everything away from him as God allowed Satan to do to Job.  

There is not a Christian I know from Malawi that does not deal with witchcraft and magic in a very serious way.  We need to as well.

 

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