Witchcraft in Madagascar: “Ody Gasy”, Myth or Reality?
Since early childhood, people in Madagascar have been immersed in a wealth of stories about sorcerers, spirits, “Mpamosavy”, and supernatural beings who have the power to cross walls to kill their fellow human beings.
Long ago, village elders told stories by a wood fire in the evenings about evil beings who wanted to destroy people’s lives or devour their souls.
In the grandparents’ tales, however, the evil genies are always struck down by a benevolent heavenly spirit that protects the victim.
Even today, these stories of magic and enchantment are widespread in Madagascar, and thanks to the variety of television and radio channels, they take on a considerable dimension.
Myth or Reality?
That is the question! Cartesian thinkers then wonder if witchcraft and the supernatural really exist in Madagascar, a question that should never be asked in public, say our elders, because it would attract witch doctors to prove their existence by casting a spell on the skeptical person.
In any case, it is difficult, if not impossible, for a Malagasy person to deny the existence of witchcraft in Madagascar.
The Origin of Witchcraft in Madagascar
Witchcraft in Madagascar is also better known as Mosavy.
Malagasy traditionalists report that it was introduced by Arabs and Africans. Madagascar presents a whole range of witchcraft practices and representations.
Among these 3 characters, the “Mpamosavy” is usually a woman, while the “mpisikidy” and the “Mpanandro” are almost always men.
In the universe of witchcraft in Madagascar, there are also 3 types of ceremonies used by practitioners:
1. Bad curses or ody ratsy (ody mahery): they are meant to harm others, even kill them.
2. Standard amulets: they can be used by both traditional healers and “Mpamosavy”.
3. Healing spells: very popular among traditional healers, they ward off spells and protect against evil.
Classifications of Evil Spells in Madagascar
As you have seen, there are 3 types of spells (bad, standard, good) in witchcraft in Madagascar.
Nevertheless, we will be mainly interested in the evil spells, which we can classify according to their effect, their method of application, and their intensity.
This way, we will be able to distinguish 5 main families of spells on the Big Island.
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Family of spells) the Vorika (food poisoning)
This family of spells is primarily used to kill the victim.
The “Vorika” is introduced into a meal offered to the target person. It can be either a finished product (chemical products), a poisoned organ of a wild animal, or the powder or juice of poisonous plants.
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Family of spells) the “hazary”.
This type of spell is characterized by its ambivalence.
In other words, hazary can be both bad (hazary ratsy) and good (hazary tsara). The latter refers to the exploitation of an area or the occupation of land.
For example: When building a house or developing a rice field or other infrastructure, the owner must use the services of a “Mpanazars” (the one who masters the danger).
The purpose of the Mpanazary is to ask the spirits of the place for permission to work or live on the land.
On the other hand, a malicious person can use a Mpanazary to bewitch a field or dwelling with the aim of harming others.
This will cause the spirits of the place to revolt against the exploitation of the land by frightening its buyers.
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Family of spells) the “mosavy” of love relationships or “ody fitia”.
This third family of spells is currently in development. This type of spell aims to keep or attract a desired person.
The most famous “mosavy” of love relationships is undoubtedly the “fanaingalavitra”, literally translated as “able to bring from a distance”.
This is a spell that has the power to bring a person you desire, no matter how far away or how long it takes.
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Family of spells) the “tolaka” (the spell of malice)
The “Tolaka” is a rather complex spell as it uses astrology. The goal is to harm or even kill a person.
To do this, the sorcerer chooses a day opposite to the day of the future victim’s birth (andro mifandratra) to perform their incantation.
They will gather the necessary materials (called Gri Gri – pieces of wood, beads, soil…) to then wish evil upon the target person.
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Family of spells) “andahiny” or “tena mosavy”.
This is perhaps the most malicious of all spells.
The Andahiny aims to directly eliminate someone you do not hold dear.
Before the victim dies, they will have to endure great suffering, both mental and physical. Moreover, only the sorcerer who performed the Andahiny has the antidote to heal the target person.
Seeking help from other diviners is useless in this case.
This type of spell is particularly popular in the regions Sakalava, Betsimisaraka, and Sihanaka.
Sikidy or the Art of Divination
The “Sikidy” is the art of divination and is a prerequisite for making talismans and amulets. This practice allows the magician to read the future of an individual or a community and also to heal their ailments.
The “Umbiasy” places various plant species in a zebu horn. These plant species are mostly endemic to the Red Island, as are the snakes with their non-lethal bite, against which one is nevertheless protected by a magical simulacrum.
The most common forms of these talismans are the zebu horn, which is garnished inside with various objects of different symbolism, the wood carved into sheaths, which are garnished in the same way as zebu horns, and the most common one is undoubtedly the amulet necklace.
Plant species can also be contained in skulls or crocodile teeth. Sometimes, shells, coins, and scissors are added to these containers.
On the other hand, the “Talismans” fight diseases, guarantee women’s fertility, reassure farmers about the next harvest, or the community about the safety of the zebu herd, a guarantee of power, but also protect the zebu thief from the defense of the brave owners or the threat of pursuers.
In any case, magic is found in the daily life of the Malagasy population.
A large majority of the population still lives in the bush and remains very connected to this ancestral culture of the imaginary and intangible.
Between dream and reality, at least the Malagasy rural population likes to think that supernatural forces shape everyone’s life and that to have favor, one must have the key.
The “Doany”: Sites of Traditional Malagasy Worship
Despite the spread of churches in the Malagasy territory, traditional worship among the Malagasy people still persists.
In Madagascar, whether in the North, South, West, or East, there are several “Doany” that hold sessions for animism, shamanism, or even ophiolatry.
The Doany of Ikory
The Doanys are actually sacred places. They can be a tomb, a stone, a water source, or a place marked by an ancestor.
For example, the Doany in Ankazomalaza, near the Rova d’Ambohimanga, protects the famous staff of the uniting King Andrianampoinimerina, which is fiercely guarded by the “Mpiandry Doany”.
Followers of the traditional religion visit their sacred sanctuaries to heal an incurable disease or to request a blessing.
Once the wish is fulfilled, the blessed person must return to the sanctuary and offer a sacrifice to the spirits.
These high places of worship accommodate an average of 50 people, more than a hundred on weekends. For example, during the Malagasy New Year festival (taombaovao Malagasy), people come in masses.
The Doanys do not receive visitors on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as these are “andro fady” or forbidden days.
Another surprising fact is that followers of the traditional cult come from all walks of life, from statesmen to ordinary officials.
It should also be noted that Christians also go there. In fact, they come on Saturdays to the Doany to request alms from their ancestors and attend Mass on Sundays.
Conclusion: Witchcraft is a Malagasy reality and remains prevalent in mentalities.
Every culture on Earth contains a hidden part, a part of mystery, and above all, magic.
In many ways, it is called witchcraft, sorcery, shamanism, voodoo, and many others. In Madagascar, it is called “ody”.
Although it has always been recognized as very powerful, even destructive, witchcraft is part of traditional life in Madagascar.
Despite the increase in modern knowledge in the West, the belief in the existence of witchcraft in Madagascar remains very persistent.
In short, witchcraft has its roots in the collective unconscious of the Malagasy population.
