RT Article
T1 The Superstition That Mutilates Children in Africa: Exploring the Scale and Features of Juju-Driven Pedicide in Kenya
JF Homicide studies
VO 29
IS 2
SP 162
OP 184
A1 Owusu, Emmanuel Sarpong
LA English
YR 2025
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1922492248
AB Juju-involved pedicide is becoming a frequent crime in contemporary African communities. Yet, sparse empirical studies on the subject exist. The present study explores the magnitude, motivations, and primary features of this crime in Kenya. An in-depth analysis was conducted of ritual homicide reports publicized in three Kenyan media outlets between 2012 and 2021. Semi-structured interviews were then conducted with five academics and activists to gain additional insights into key aspects of the results of the content analysis. The data support relevant existing literature that the worst victims of juju-driven murders are children of low socio-economic background in rural communities. The study calls for traditional spiritualists and dubious religious leaders to be brought under closer scrutiny.
K1 ritual murder
K1 devil worship
K1 human body parts
K1 ritual pedicide
K1 juju
DO 10.1177/10887679221129302